Tauranga track star Sam Ruthe is now the holder of yet another world’s best time.

The 15-year-old runner competed in the Graham Douglas International meet in Auckland on February 9.

Ruthe’s name is the on the lips of most in the athletics scene after achieving his fifth world’s best title this season, which is not over yet.

Last weekend, at the Graham Douglas International, Ruthe came second in the 1500m category with a time of 3:41.25s, which in the process saw him clinch his age-record previously held by Olympic gold medalist Jacob Britson.

This follows Ruthe setting a world’s best time at Hastings’ Potts Classic event on February 1 for the 3000m by improving his time to 7:56.18.

Before this, on January 25, he set a world best time at Whanganui’s Cooks Gardens event for his age, in the mile category with a time of 4:01.72 - smashing his previous world’s best by almost four seconds.

“I knew going into the race I was ranked eighth, I had the world record at the back of my mind but really I just wanted to be in the race for the win, to get second in that international men’s field was something I never could have dreamed of at the start of the season,” said Ruthe of his Whanganui victory.

On December 14, Ruthe claimed the world’s best time for his age in the 3000m category with a time of 8:06.56 at Melbourne’s Zatopek International Meet, and on November 20, he set the world best time for a 15-year-old in the 3000m category with a time of 8:09.68 at the Auckland City Track Meet.

Running is in Sam Ruthe’s blood, his mum Jessica Ruthe has a multitude of national championships, his dad Ben Ruthe has several national records, and his uncle Gareth Hyett is a three-time national champion.

Moreover, his Nan Rosemary Wright won a gold medal in the 1969 European Championships and a 1970 Commonwealth Games gold medal plus Poppa Trevor Wright ran a world debut marathon, won European silver, reached the podium at both New York and London, and claimed the NZ national title in 1982.

Talking to The Weekend Sun, after the Whanganui’s Cooks Gardens event where he not only broke the world mile record for a 15-year-old but did so by almost four seconds., Ruthe said: “Honestly, I can’t believe it”.

“I really felt I had a shot at under 4:05 but to be so close to 4:00 was a surprise.”

Sam Ruthe at the Cooks Classics Mile Finish.

Ruthe’s training partner, Sam Tanner from Pāpāmoa is an Olympic 1500m finalist and the only Kiwi who finished ahead of Ruthe in January 25’s Cooks Gardens event at Whanganui.

“He is really setting a path which I would love to follow if I can,” said Ruthe.

Sam Ruthe said he admires Tanner as he lives for the joy of running and life and it’s not about one race or one time but just loving the process.

Ruthe follows a long-term plan for his training, not focusing on any particular race. His coach Craig Kirkwood wants Ruthe to focus more on the future.

Sam Ruthe and Sam Tanner after the Cook’s Garden race in Whanganui. Photo / supplied

After becoming the youngest person to win a New Zealand senior men’s title back in January, dad Ben Ruthe couldn’t believe his son broke the record for a 15-year-old and the New Zealand records for under 16, 17, 18 and 19-year-olds.

“He is now quicker than any US highschooler over 3000m ever and has three years left at Tauranga Boys’ [College],” said Ben Ruthe, who with family kept Sam away from competitive running until the age of 13 when they felt he was ready.

Richard Willis – Olympic silver medalist Nick Willis’s dad – confirmed that Sam Ruthe is two years ahead of Nick at the same speed, said Ben.

And the season isn’t over yet, Sam Ruthe – who turns turns 16 on April 12 – still has plenty of goals to complete.

In March, he is off to Australia to race where he aims to break four minutes for the mile.