Source: Radio New Zealand
New Zealand runner Sam Ruthe PHOTOSPORT
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 1500 metres 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 Under-18 best of 3:48.88 in Boston.
The 16-year-old is currently the number one-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 Under-20 Championships return to Hayward Field, Eugene, for the first time since 2014.
The 2014 Championships saw Eliza McCartney break onto 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 & 200m
- Madeleine Waddell – 400m Coach: Sonia Waddell
- Boh Ritchie – 800m Coach: Angela Russek
- Scarlett Robb – 1500m & 3000m Coach: Graeme Holden
- Bronwen Rees-Jones – 3000m Steeplechase Coach: Steve Rees-Jones
- Karmen Maritz – Shot Put & 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 & Discus Coach: Mike Schofield
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
