By JAMIE TROUGHTON
National titles may have eluded Ben Ruthe this year but with the 26-year-old in Tauranga, local administrators reckon they've struck gold anyway.
Since moving here with Bay-raised wife Jess, Ruthe has nearly single-handedly dragged Tauranga Ramblers into the national spotlight.
The former 1500m national champion helped Ramblers to a first-ever
medal at the New Zealand road relay championships in Feilding and has lifted the overall standard of Tauranga's top runners.
``His enthusiasm is infectious and he's been an inspiration for old administrators and young athletes alike _ he's definitely a mover and a shaker and we're hoping he keeps on moving for the next few years,'' Tauranga Athletics president Malcolm Taylor said.
Long blessed with outstanding juniors and classy coaches, Tauranga's senior ranks have struggled, but with an all-weather track finally in the air for Tauranga, Ruthe's arrival was timely.
He's helped lift the standard of locals like Iain and Kyle Macdonald and Mark McKeown. Nationally-ranked runners like Craig Kirkwood and Jason Cameron have followed him into the Ramblers singlet and next year he's got big plans for the women's ranks, giving Ramblers even more clout.
``They've got the history and the talent _ it's a club that's got everything going for it, including the best location for running in the country,'' Ruthe said. ``I've just loved being part of it and my running has certainly improved because of the snowball effect of enthusiasm.''
