Sam Ruthe has continued Tauranga Boys' College attack on New Zealand’s middle distance running scene.

Ruthe took home three golds from Palmerston North after the weekends North Island Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships.

It was only 12 months ago that Tauranga Boys' College phenom George Wyllie set the fastest 3000m in the events history for Intermediate boys (under 16 year olds). 

This year his school mate and training partner Sam Ruthe went on his own record rampage.

Ruthe first lined up in the 800m where a slow 59.7s first lap made a record look unlikely before he dropped the hammer with a second lap of 55.5 opening up a significant gap to the chasers and reducing the 23 year old record from 1:56.06 to 1:55.28.

The very next day Ruthe lined up in the 1500m.

A slow and tactical first 800m made the record look safe until Ruthe stormed home over the final two laps with increasing speed and closing out in an astonishing 58 second final 400m to lower the Championship record to 3:59.21.

Only 45 minutes later Ruthe was at it again running the anchor leg for the Waikato Bay of Plenty 4 by 400m team. Running away from Wellingtons final runner to close in a 51..96s final leg and win his 3rd gold of the meet.

Ruthe's performance over the weekend demonstrates the current dominance of Tauranga Boys' College with current Tauranga Boys' College athletes have 100 per cent of the under 16 middle distance records in Championship history which have been going for almost 50 years.

“We have such a great team at TBC, my Coach CK just knows how to get people into race shape too, the group is so strong, we all just need to run faster to keep up with our mates,” says Ruthe when asked what he thought about Tauranga’s recent dominance.

With a full year left in the intermediate boys grade Ruthe has now run the fastest 800m, 1500m and 3000m for a 14 year old in New Zealand track and field history.

No athlete has three North Island records and team mate and Wyllie must be nervous that the record of 8:32 he set just last year is in Ruthes sights for 2025, says Ben Ruthe.

Meanwhile, Wyllie has his own targets with a 3000m race set up for Sunday morning where he hopes to gain an 8:06 World Junior championship qualifying time.

Showing the spirit and support in the group Ruthe will be leading out the early laps to help set Wyllie up for his best shot at the standard.