News | Athletics
26 Jan 2026 14:42
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  •   Home > News > Sports > Athletics

    To intervene as overbearing parents, or let a generational talent chase what's possible at 16-years-old?

    To intervene as overbearing parents, or let a generational talent chase what's possible at 16-years-old?


    That's the dilemma facing Ben and Jess Ruthe as their son Sam shakes up the middle distance running world.

    The teenager now holds the world lead mile time for his age, and he's off to the United States this week with training partner and Olympian Sam Tanner for another series of races over the distance.

    Ben Ruthe says he has faith in coach Craig Kirkwood's programme.



    Ruthe senior's previously indicated education will remains Sam's priority in 2026 - he's about to start year 12 at Tauranga Boys College.

    © 2026 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

     Other Athletics News
     25 Jan: Sam Tanner's win over teen star Sam Ruthe in the New Zealand Mile Championships at the Cooks Classic has come with a cherry on top
     25 Jan: Confidence from teenage runner Sam Ruthe that he'll continue to get faster - after claiming yet another age-group world record
     25 Jan: Teen running phenom Sam Ruthe is keeping his competitive edge after becoming the fastest ever 16-year-old over the mile at the Cooks Classic in Whanganui
     17 Jan: An array of personal bests and maiden titles have been claimed at the Potts Classic athletics event in Hawke's Bay
     11 Jan: Australia wins World Cross Country Championships relay gold after Jessica Hull's anchor leg
     04 Jan: Teen running phenom Sam Ruthe has snared another world record, becoming the fastest 16-year-old EVER across 1000 metres
     21 Dec: Teenage runner Sam Ruthe has set two New Zealand age-group records at the "Night of Fives" meet in Auckland
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