Whangārei hosts NZ Secondary Schools Cross Country Champs for first time

Sam Ruthe (right), the youngest person in history to break the four-minute-mile barrier, in 3m 58.35s, is entered into the NZ Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships in Whangārei. Photo / Athletics NZ

Whangārei is hosting the NZ Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships this weekend, with teenage middle-distance prodigy Sam Ruthe among the 700 athletes competing.

This is the first time Whangārei has hosted the event, which is in its 51st year.

Nigel Stewart from Athletics Whangārei said hosting such an event, and so many young competitors, involved a lot of hard work from volunteer club members.

But Athletics Whangārei wanted to give local young athletes the chance to run against some of New Zealand’s top teenage cross-country runners, he said.

Some of the competitors entered are the best in the world.

Tauranga’s Sam Ruthe made headlines this year when he became the youngest person in the world to break the four-minute-mile barrier.

The 15-year-old raced the mile in 3m 58.35s on March 20, finishing second behind Olympian Sam Tanner, who helped set the pace.

Stewart said the competition is a chance for Northlanders to compete against the “big boys”.

“For a 15-year-old boy to run in the same race as Sam Ruthe ... to be involved is what we’re trying to encourage.”

Stewart said cross country is a good sport to get into because it is relatively cheap and involves being out in the open.

The course at Barge Park will be quite muddy, he admitted, giving runners a good challenge.

The competition takes place at Barge Park in Maunu on Saturday, followed by regional team relays on Sunday, with more details available from the New Zealand Secondary Schools Athletics Association website.

Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.