School is set to take a back seat for Sam Ruthe, but he’ll be learning in the school of life as he chases his running ambitions.
The 17-year-old, who’s broken multiple age-group world records over the past couple of years, will finish up at Tauranga Boys' College at the end of the year, missing his final year of school.
"I feel like it’s quite hard to balance a full lifestyle of training and then racing as well, especially at my level," Ruthe said.
"I’m not sure if many athletes who are competing at the level I’m competing have school, just because it gets in the way of recovery. Right now, life’s a bit of a shambles trying to fuel and stay recovered. I find it’s decreasing my performance quite a bit."
Teen athletics star Sam Ruthe reveals major decision about his future - Watch on TVNZ+
It wasn’t a decision Ruthe and his parents made lightly.
But it was reinforced when World Athletics’ new qualification system and entry standards for the 2027 World Championships came out yesterday. The entry standards are now significantly tougher, and the best way for Ruthe to increase his chances of qualifying is to compete more and accumulate points.
The middle-distance runner is looking to base himself in Europe next year, but has plenty to sort out before then.
Last week he pulled out of the Commonwealth Games due to injury, suffering a stress fracture of his fibula in April. Instead, he’s now targeting the World Under 20 Athletics Championships in the United States in early August. It would be Ruthe’s first race of the season.
"I wouldn’t go into a race if I wasn’t aiming for top three," he said.
"I would love to podium, definitely, and I still think it’s likely."
His injury has meant he’s had to amend his training to maintain his fitness, spending plenty of time instead on the bike and in the pool.
"In the last three days I’ve probably biked a little over nine hours, all pretty high intensity. It’s starting to feel really good and I don’t get any fatigue on the bike."
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