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'It's scary': Coach warns rivals after Ruthe's historic mile performance
Kieran Bingham • February 3rd, 2026 3:20 pm
Sam Ruthe | Photo: Photosport
Craig Kirkwood, trainer of Kiwi middle-distance sensation Sam Ruthe, admits even he was left stunned after the 16-year-old obliterated the under-18 world record for the mile at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston.
Ruthe produced a jaw-dropping performance, stopping the clock at 3m 48.88s, becoming the youngest athlete in history to run a mile under 3 minutes 50 seconds. In doing so, he also erased Sir John Walker’s New Zealand mile record, a mark that had stood untouched for 44 years.
Speaking with Sport Nation’s Scotty & Izzy, Kirkwood said the performance caught him completely off guard.
"I was pretty shocked to be fair. He keeps surprising me every time he steps on the track, but that was one out of the box. By no means did I think he was going to take down John Walker's record in that race, but he did."
Despite Ruthe’s meteoric rise, Kirkwood believes the teenager’s mindset and competitive instinct are just as impressive as his raw talent. As his coach, Kirkwood credits Ruthe’s internal drive and racing mentality as the foundation of his success.
"He's just a really calm kid, really humble, really super motivated to be good and he just has a real desire to get out and race. He just wants to race anyone who will stand on the start line with him. And that very much comes from his parents and his lineage.
"They're a family of athletes and competitors, so they're just inherent in him. He's got great awareness on the track. He's a fantastic racer, puts himself in position when and where he needs to, and just executes pretty much flawlessly every time."
What makes Ruthe’s record-breaking run even more frightening for the rest of the athletics world is how early he still is in his development. Kirkwood believes the ceiling is far higher than what’s already been achieved.
"It's scary to think how fast he can go considering where he's already at and how much more he can actually do in terms training."
At just 16, Sam Ruthe has already rewritten history, dethroned a New Zealand legend, and announced himself on the global stage.
If this performance is any indication, the world may only be getting its first glimpse of what could become one of the most extraordinary middle-distance careers the sport has ever seen.
Listen to the full interview below:
