Tauranga runner Sam Ruthe is proving his skills on the athletics stage.

The 15-year-old Tauranga Boys’ College student is one of many runners in his family, some of whom have broken records and competed on the international stage.

Ruthe started training at the beginning of last year after showing potential in his school running races.

“There is something about running fast that I just always enjoyed,” said Ruthe.

Ruthe rebroke the world’s best time for 3000m for a 15-year-old, taking a further three seconds off his previous record racing in the elite men’s open field on November 20.

In the process, he broke the New Zealand record for under-16s, under-17s, and under-18s.

He competed in this year’s New Zealand secondary school championships, where he set national records in two distances – 800m and 1500m.

This means he has now run the fastest 800m, 1500m and 3000m times ever run by a 15-year-old Kiwi.

Ruthe feels good about these results but said, “There are always people better, so I just need to keep working at it.”

He is training with renowned coach Craig Kirkwood, who sent athletes Hayden Wilde and Sam Tanner to the last two Olympics.

Kirkwood said he enjoys working with young athletes whom he can push towards becoming world-class athletes.

“He [Ruthe] is a very talented young kid who loves to train with his mates.

“I think the enjoyment of being in a squad of young athletes has helped him develop a love for the sport.”

Ruthe said there’s nothing like training with mates. “People like Vaughan Murray and George Wylie are always pushing me and we have a great time in Craig’s training sessions.”

Ruthe has a training routine created by Kirkwood consisting of running four-five days a week and cycling one-two times a week.

“He focuses on quality sessions but not too much distance. I only do about 40 or 50km per week which isn’t really much,” said Ruthe.

On January 25, 2025, Ruthe will have a crack at the world’s best time for a mile at the Cooks Garden Classic in Whanganui. His current time suggests that he is in with a chance.