​In a night dominated by headlines of Lachlan Kennedy’s stunning victory over Gout Gout in the men’s 200 meters at Melbourne’s Maurie Plant Meet, a remarkable achievement by a young Kiwi talent quietly unfolded. Fifteen-year-old Sam Ruthe, hailing from New Zealand, delivered a performance that etched his name into the annals of middle-distance running.​

Just weeks after making history as the youngest person globally to break the four-minute mile—clocking 3:58.35 in Auckland on March 19—Ruthe took to the track at Albert Park’s Lakeside Stadium. Competing in the men’s 1500 meters, he not only held his own against seasoned athletes but also shattered his own world age-15 best. His time of 3:40.12 eclipsed his previous mark of 3:41.25 set earlier in February, which had surpassed the record held by Norwegian Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen.​

Despite this groundbreaking feat, Ruthe’s post-race reflections revealed a hunger for more. His coach, Craig Kirkwood, shared insights with Wide World of Sports, noting that Ruthe felt he had given his competitors too much leeway during the race. “He came off the track and identified immediately that he probably gave the guys a little bit too much respect and sat too far back,” Kirkwood explained. Such self-awareness and determination at a tender age underscore the immense potential Ruthe possesses.​

As the athletics world buzzes with the emergence of talents like Kennedy and the enduring prowess of Gout, Sam Ruthe’s achievements serve as a compelling reminder of the bright future awaiting in middle-distance running. Keep an eye on this young Kiwi; his journey is just beginning.