Sam Ruthe

Sam Ruthe
Personal information
Born (2009-04-12) 12 April 2009
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportAthletics
Event
middle distance running
Achievements and titles
National finals1500 m champion (2025, 2026)
3000 m champion (2025)
Personal bests

Sam Ruthe (born 12 April 2009) is a New Zealand middle and long-distance runner. In early 2025, he won a senior national title in the 1500 metres and 3000 metres. He later became the youngest person in the world to run a mile in less than four minutes, running 3:58.35 at the age of 15, and the fastest time for the mile ever run by a 16 year-old with 3:53.83. At the 2026 John Thomas Terrier Classic, Ruthe ran the mile in 3:48.88 for a world under-18 best, with the 1500 metres intermediate time of 3:33.25 also being recognised as a world under-18 best. By February 2026, Ruthe held all the New Zealand U20 records between 800 metres and 5000 metres (except the 1000m).