Teen running star Sam Ruthe selected for first New Zealand team

Teen running star Sam Ruthe leads a 12-strong team for the World Under-20 Championships in Eugene, US. Photo / Photosport

By RNZ

Teen running star Sam Ruthe headlines a 12-strong New Zealand athletics team to contest the World Under-20 Championships later this year.

Ruthe has been selected in his first international team and will contest the 1500m at the meeting in Eugene, Oregon, in August.

The competition is a week after the Glasgow Commonwealth Games which Ruthe is also hoping to compete at.

Ruthe has enjoyed a headline-grabbing past year, culminating in breaking John Walker’s New Zealand mile record and running a world U18 best of 3m 48.88s in Boston.

The 16-year-old is currently the No 1-ranked athlete for 2026 in the U20 men’s 1500m.

Boh Ritchie, who is an 800m specialist, alongside 400m star Madeleine Waddell, return for their second World U20 Championships, having both competed at the 2024 edition in Peru.

The 2026 World U20 Championships return to Hayward Field, Eugene, in the United States, for the first time since 2014.

The 2014 Championships saw Eliza McCartney break on to the global stage for the first time, earning bronze in the women’s pole vault. Since the 2014 championships, Hayward Field has been completely rebuilt and in 2022, hosted the World Athletics Championships.

The NZ Team for the 2026 World Athletics Championships

• Kendra Scally-Tu’i - 100m and 200m.
• Madeleine Waddell - 400m. Coach: Sonia Waddell.
• Boh Ritchie - 800m. Coach: Angela Russek.
• Scarlett Robb - 1500m and 3000m. Coach: Graeme Holden.
• Bronwen Rees-Jones - 3000m Steeplechase. Coach: Steve Rees-Jones.
• Karmen Maritz - Shot Put and Discus. Coach: Mike Schofield.
• Sam Ruthe - 1500m. Coach: Craig Kirkwood.
• Joe Martin - 800m. Coach: Ian Moini.
• George Wyllie - 1500m. Coach: Craig Kirkwood.
• Connall McClean - 800m. Coach: Hamish Meacham.
• Manaia Christiansen - Shot Put. Coach: John Eden.
• Austin McDougal - Shot Put and Discus. Coach: Mike Schofield.