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Sam Ruthe Becomes Youngest Athlete to Run a Sub-Four-Minute Mile

The 15-year-old New Zealander clocked 3:58.35 in Auckland, breaking age and national records in a historic achievement.

Ruthe follows Sam Tanner on his way to a sub-four-minute mile.
New Zealand middle distance runner Sam Ruthe warms up before running in the mile distance at Mt Smart Stadium on March 19, 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand. Ruthe broke the four minute mile barrier with a time of 3:58.35 placing him as the youngest person in history and first under 15 years old to break the record.
Ruthe, 15, poses with his time of 3min 58.35sec, making him the youngest person to break the four-minute mile barrier, first achieved by Bannister in 1954
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Overview

  • Sam Ruthe, 15, ran a time of 3:58.35 at Go Media Stadium in Auckland, making him the youngest person ever to break the four-minute mile barrier.
  • The previous record was held by Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who achieved the feat at age 16 with a time of 3:58.07.
  • Ruthe’s performance also broke New Zealand’s under-20 and under-19 records previously held by Sam Tanner, who paced him during the race.
  • This milestone comes shortly after Ruthe became the youngest-ever senior national champion in the 3,000 meters at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships.
  • The sub-four-minute mile, first achieved in 1954 by Roger Bannister, remains a landmark in middle-distance running, with modern training and technology aiding athletes like Ruthe in reaching new heights.