The craziest thing? He did this at 9:50 in the morning.
Led the race gun to tape, 52.X at 400m - and don't forget this, less than 24 after running that solo 3.38.62 in the heats of the 1500m yesterday.
He still has 2 more years of running at HS in NZ, it's kind of unfathomable to think right now where these records could be after his final year just based on his performances at this point in time.
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1:46 is very very impressive. Great speed for a 3:38 runner, but thats also where Niels Laros was at the same age. And back to back days, run solo? Geez.
He's 16 years old. I would be more surprised if there wasn't a drop like this - although I would have expected it in the 3k or something, not the 800. He never struck me as a speed guy.
Also would add that Joe Martin ran 1.49.74 for second that would have smashed the old record by half a second, and he was a total afterthought despite a sensational run himself.
Final point, you have to understand the environment he's doing this in. There must have been 500 people in that stadium when he did that - it was essentially a training TT. This wasn't the Melbourne GP running at 8pm with 6-7 guys around him dragging him through. Same with his 1500m yesterday.
It's hard to really put this into context.
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That's crazy fast. Ruthe has showed insane range from 800m to 3000m so far.
He's U18 for the entirety of 2026. Who knows what he can do during that year?
So far he has: 1:46.81, 3:38.62, 3:58.35 and 7:56.18
Jakob as an U18 runner: 1:49.40, 3:39.92, 3:56.29, 8:00.01 and 13:35.84
Laros as an U18 runner: 1:46.3, 3:39.46, (no mile), 7:48.25 and 13:57.78
Myers as an U18 runner: 1:50.82, 3:33.26, 3:55.44, 7:52.06
(Myers didn't run any 800m races the year he turned 17, that 1:50 is from the year he turned 16, he did 1:47.11 the year he turned 18, so let's say he was capable of 1:48.high or 1:49.low as a U18 runner)
Ruthe will be very interesting to follow.
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They are different types of runners, but I can imagine Ruthe and Lutkenhaus clashing for many years down the road.
Ruthe will never get to Lutkenhaus's level in the 800 lol. 1:42.2 is simply on another planet from anything Ruthe has done (no discredit to him). No idea what Cooper could run a 15/mile in but he did run one mile race in 4:06 this past spring; obviously that's pretty far behind Ruthe over that distance but also pretty legit for any 16 year old...especially one who barely does any mileage.
Anyways, Ruthe running 1:46 might be more impressive than his 3:38 from the day before; I suspect he's got 3:36 in him if he actually has people to run with. Maybe a world team in 2027??
Ruthe will never get to Lutkenhaus's level in the 800 lol. 1:42.2 is simply on another planet from anything Ruthe has done (no discredit to him). No idea what Cooper could run a 15/mile in but he did run one mile race in 4:06 this past spring; obviously that's pretty far behind Ruthe over that distance but also pretty legit for any 16 year old...especially one who barely does any mileage.
Anyways, Ruthe running 1:46 might be more impressive than his 3:38 from the day before; I suspect he's got 3:36 in him if he actually has people to run with. Maybe a world team in 2027??
He just needs to hit the standard and he’s in. And what 16 year old miler - even at a high level - doesn’t improve 5 seconds from 16 to 18? He’s also actually 16
They are different types of runners, but I can imagine Ruthe and Lutkenhaus clashing for many years down the road.
Ruthe will never get to Lutkenhaus's level in the 800 lol. 1:42.2 is simply on another planet from anything Ruthe has done (no discredit to him). No idea what Cooper could run a 15/mile in but he did run one mile race in 4:06 this past spring; obviously that's pretty far behind Ruthe over that distance but also pretty legit for any 16 year old...especially one who barely does any mileage.
Anyways, Ruthe running 1:46 might be more impressive than his 3:38 from the day before; I suspect he's got 3:36 in him if he actually has people to run with. Maybe a world team in 2027??
What was Coopers season opener time for the 800m as a 16 year old? I thought his was around 1.46 too? Or even slower? Keep in mind this was Ruthe has run 5 races over those two days including his 3.38 which was solo start to finish like his 800m.
They are different types of runners, but I can imagine Ruthe and Lutkenhaus clashing for many years down the road.
Ruthe will never get to Lutkenhaus's level in the 800 lol. 1:42.2 is simply on another planet from anything Ruthe has done (no discredit to him). No idea what Cooper could run a 15/mile in but he did run one mile race in 4:06 this past spring; obviously that's pretty far behind Ruthe over that distance but also pretty legit for any 16 year old...especially one who barely does any mileage.
Anyways, Ruthe running 1:46 might be more impressive than his 3:38 from the day before; I suspect he's got 3:36 in him if he actually has people to run with. Maybe a world team in 2027??
kinda unfair to compare the two side-by-side though since they specialize in different events and 1500 is significantly more aerobic than the 800 (70% vs 50%), so it would naturally take longer for someone to realize their potential (i.e: more life-long mileage)
They are different types of runners, but I can imagine Ruthe and Lutkenhaus clashing for many years down the road.
Ruthe will never get to Lutkenhaus's level in the 800 lol. 1:42.2 is simply on another planet from anything Ruthe has done (no discredit to him). No idea what Cooper could run a 15/mile in but he did run one mile race in 4:06 this past spring; obviously that's pretty far behind Ruthe over that distance but also pretty legit for any 16 year old...especially one who barely does any mileage.
Anyways, Ruthe running 1:46 might be more impressive than his 3:38 from the day before; I suspect he's got 3:36 in him if he actually has people to run with. Maybe a world team in 2027??
That‘s a bold statement with no real merit. Ruthe has been focusing on the 1500m/mile, barely touched the 800m. His ultimate ability over the 800m is completely unknown.. To run a 1:46 solo less than 24hrs after a 3:38 with very little training focus on the event is insane. Yes sure Lutkenhau ran 1:42 but this is his speciality distance with all his training aligned solely to this event. Not to mention he ran the time in the US senior men’s final event where he had other athletes to help pull him through. Imagine if Ruthe was to put all his training focus on the 800m for a season or two and run in a diamond league in Monaco or similar.
Ruthe will never get to Lutkenhaus's level in the 800 lol. 1:42.2 is simply on another planet from anything Ruthe has done (no discredit to him). No idea what Cooper could run a 15/mile in but he did run one mile race in 4:06 this past spring; obviously that's pretty far behind Ruthe over that distance but also pretty legit for any 16 year old...especially one who barely does any mileage.
Anyways, Ruthe running 1:46 might be more impressive than his 3:38 from the day before; I suspect he's got 3:36 in him if he actually has people to run with. Maybe a world team in 2027??
That‘s a bold statement with no real merit. Ruthe has been focusing on the 1500m/mile, barely touched the 800m. His ultimate ability over the 800m is completely unknown.. To run a 1:46 solo less than 24hrs after a 3:38 with very little training focus on the event is insane. Yes sure Lutkenhau ran 1:42 but this is his speciality distance with all his training aligned solely to this event. Not to mention he ran the time in the US senior men’s final event where he had other athletes to help pull him through. Imagine if Ruthe was to put all his training focus on the 800m for a season or two and run in a diamond league in Monaco or similar.
Maybe his future is in the 1500 but why not concentrate on the 800 for 2 to 3 years and move back up ?
I could see both Sam's chipping away at that national 800 record and add in james Preston to the mix .
Footnote ... the 1500 was solo but the 800 was not . He knew he had a race on his hands as he had never beaten Joe over 800 before. As it turned out joe tied up badly over the last 200 - 250 and the race was over but by no means was it solo.