Athletics prodigy Sam Ruthe guides young visually impaired athlete Tamahau Hicks at Colgate Games

Sam Ruthe guided visually impaired young runner Tamahau Hicks at the Colgate Games in Tauranga. Photo / Athletics NZ

When the urgent call went out for a guide to run alongside a young athlete in Tauranga this morning, rising Kiwi track star Sam Ruthe answered.

The 16-year-old, who holds almost every national record for distances between 800-5000m in under-16s through to U20s, was a surprise starter in the Colgate Games on Saturday morning, lining up to guide visually impaired athlete Tamahau Hicks in his 1500m race.

Ruthe had already been planning to attend the event, where athletes between 7-14 years compete, to help with medal presentations and meet some of the athletes.

But when Hicks’ original guide had to pull out due to illness, Athletics Tauranga secretary Andrea Neal reached out to see if Ruthe was available.

“I jumped on the phone and gave him a quick call and said, ‘Would you like to go for a run instead?’ He was actually out training at the time, but his dad passed on the message and he was really keen and jumped on board.”

Neal said because Hicks, who competes for Te Aroha Athletics Club and Achilles Tauranga Moana, is able to see the white rail on the inside of the track, the pair did not have to be tethered. Instead, the role had Ruthe running alongside Hicks, letting him know if there were any obstacles nearby or if he was getting too close to the white line.

“If there’s any other runners around, he can’t see their feet moving in front of him, and he’s not aware if someone’s coming up from behind him, so lots of clear communication.”

Hicks, 12, took up running two years ago after doctors told his family his rugby-playing days were limited as his vision was getting worse. Hicks has a traumatic brain injury that impacts his depth perception, balance and co-ordination.

He has taken to running – competing in more than 50 long-distance running events for Achilles International New Zealand, and winning the Athletes with a Disability cross country at last year’s Aims Games.

Neal said that while guiding an athlete wasn’t for everyone, Ruthe took the role in his stride and even worked out what pace he had to run to get Hicks the time he was aiming for.

It must have worked, as Hicks shaved 40s off his personal best with a time of 5m 57.233s.

Neal said that while the athletes at the event “couldn’t quite believe it” when they saw Ruthe turn up, the rising star probably felt more at home in that role.

“I think he’s probably more comfortable running around the track than he is with the shaking hands and presenting medals. He seemed to really enjoy it.”