Sam Ruthe: World record - Kiwi becomes youngest ever to break four-minute mile

New Zealand’s middle-distance prodigy Sam Ruthe has become the youngest person in history to break the four-minute-mile barrier.

The 15-year-old from Tauranga became the 49th New Zealander to break the milestone target, doing so at a wet Go Media Stadium in Auckland tonight.

Olympian Sam Tanner helped lead Ruthe in the second half of the race, setting the pace for the teenager towards the finish line.

Ruthe eventually finished second behind Tanner in 3m 58.35s.

Ben Wall also broke the mark for the first time in 3m 59s, as all three went under four minutes. Tanner won in a time of 3m 58.29s.

“This was probably my favourite goal I’ve reached. Definitely enjoyed this one the most with all the people here supporting me. It was absolutely magical to cross with my training partner Sam, one of the nicest feelings ever,” Ruthe said.

“About an hour before I was getting a bit scared as it was hammering down. The rain seemed to clear perfectly in time for our race,” he added.

The Tauranga Boys College student said he would celebrate with a good meal and then go to bed early.

Sam Ruthe (right) crosses the finish line next to Sam Tanner to become the youngest person ever to break the magic four-minute mile barrier. Photo / Photosport

The teen has running in his genes.

Father Ben Ruthe is a former national record holder over 800 and 1000m, while mum Jess held national cross-country titles.

Sam’s grandma Rosemary was a champion 400m relay sprinter and 800m Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

“I’m shocked, a bit relieved. Stoked for him. A bit lost for words,” Ben Ruthe said last night.

“I’ve been around athletes for a while and that’s good as it gives me an understanding of what is possible and what people have done historically and all those measurements and yardsticks that I’ve ever thought were the limits are a bit shattered in my head. To see what he’s done time and time again. That’s his 11th and 12th New Zealand records, age group, and his sixth world best. It’s hard to get your head around that,” his father added.

Ruthe has been making headlines all summer. He first shattered the 15-year-old world best for 3000m in November, then lowered it twice more – most recently running 7m 56.18s in Hastings.

Then, at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships, he did the unthinkable – tying for gold in the senior 1500m with Tanner.

Their 3m 44.31s dead-heat was unprecedented in national history.

Ruthe’s trajectory places him among the sport’s most elite teenage milers.

Two-time Olympic champion and current three-time world record holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, ran 3m 58.07s at 16. Australia’s Cam Myers set the former record for a 16-year-old at 3m 55.44s.

New Zealand has a storied history in the mile. Sir John Walker became the first man to break 3m 50s for the mile in 1975, before claiming Olympic gold over 1500m the following year.

Before Walker, Kiwi greats such as Sir Peter Snell and Jack Lovelock set world records and redefined middle-distance running.

The four-minute mile has been a middle-distance running benchmark since Britain’s Sir Roger Bannister first ran under the mark in 1954.

Ruthe will race in Melbourne next Saturday at the Maurie Plant Meet, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting.