AUCKLAND, March 30, 2025 — New Zealand athlete Sam Ruthe made history on Wednesday by becoming the youngest person to run a sub-four-minute mile.
Ruthe, who will turn 16 in mid-April, clocked a time of 3:58.35 at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.
According to New Zealand Athletics, the previous youngest athlete to break the four-minute barrier was Norwegian Olympian Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who ran 3:58.07 at age 16.
Ruthe was paced by two-time Olympian Sam Tanner on the rain-soaked track before crossing the finish line just behind the five-time New Zealand champion.
“This was probably my favorite goal that I’ve achieved. I’ve enjoyed this one the most, especially with all the people supporting me,” Ruthe said after the race, per Reuters. “This was the most structured setup for me, so I’m really happy to have achieved it.”
Earlier this month, Ruthe became the youngest-ever senior national champion at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships, winning the 3,000 meters in 7:56.18.
His Wednesday performance shaved over three seconds off his previous mile best of 4:01.72, set at the Cooks Classic in January. It also surpassed Tanner’s New Zealand under-20 and under-19 record of 3:58.41.
A sub-four-minute mile has long been a prestigious milestone in athletics, first achieved by Great Britain’s Roger Bannister in 1954.
While advancements in training and shoe technology have made the feat more common, many still regard it as a landmark achievement for middle-distance runners. — CNN