Sam Ruthe's historic size 10.5 US running shoes up for auction. Photo: supplied/Trade Me
Teenager middle-distance sensation Sam Ruthe is auctioning his world record running shoes to raise money to support his training partners and coach Craig Kirkwood.
On Wednesday, Ruthe, 15, became the youngest person to break four minutes for the mile at rain-soaked Mt Smart Stadium, still 24 days short of his 16th birthday.
The achievement sent shock waves around the athletics world - he took three seconds off his previous world best for a 15-year-old and was 274 days younger than Norwegian Jackob Ingebrigtsen, since a two-time Olympic champion, who ran 3m 58.07s in 2017.
Now, the shoes that carried him to history have been posted on Trade Me.
"One young owner," the ad said. "A little water exposure, but dry now. Hopefully good for another decade or so. Verified as being raced in for only 3m 58.35s.
Sam Ruthe (right) clocks sub-four minutes for the mile, paced by Sam Tanner. Photo: Photosport / Andrew Cornaga
"Still has stickers in the heels. Can vouch for the faint whiff of achievement."
The sleek Nike racers, size 10.5 US, are sure to become a collector's item and had already attracted a $1040 offer by 4pm Saturday. Bidding closes next Saturday, 29 March.
This summer, Ruthe also set world age bests over 1500m (3m 41.25s) and 3000m (7m 56.18s), and became New Zealand's youngest-ever senior men's champion, winning the latter title and sharing the former with Olympian Sam Tanner.
Kirkwood, a former Commonwealth Games marathoner, also coaches Tanner, who paced Ruthe to his sub-four performance, and previously guided Olympic triathlete Hayden Wilde.
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