![\"Sam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4KAA8PT_250319SamRutheSub4_19_JPG.jpeg\")
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\nSam Ruthe
\nPhoto: Photosport\n<\/p>\n
Teenage running phenomenon Sam Ruthe has cast doubt over his immediate racing future after suffering a stress fracture to his lower leg.<\/p>\n
Ruthe, who turned 17 on Sunday, posted that he’ll be “off the radar for a while”, although there was no indication whether time out will affect his preparation or availability for the Commonwealth Games in July.<\/p>\n
On the running app Strava, he indicated the injury caught him by surprise.<\/p>\n
“It wasn’t a running related injury and was caused by lateral movement activity like football, so I will be off the radar for a bit while it heals,” Ruthe said.<\/p>\n
A fibula stress fracture might typically take six to 12 weeks of recovery time but, crucially, requires rest and low-impact activity.<\/p>\n
That could affect Ruthe’s buildup for the Games in Glasgow, starting on 23 July, followed by the world under-20 championships in the United States in early August.<\/p>\n
He was also scheduled to contest the mile at a Diamond League event in early July – the Prefontaine Classic.<\/p>\n
![\"Sam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4JTXO6V_IMG_9842_2_JPG.jpeg\")
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\nSam Ruthe celebrates after winning the mile at the John Thomas Terrier Classic indoors meet at Boston University, 31 January, 2026 (US time).
\nPhoto: Supplied\/ Athletics NZ – Aaron Bui\n<\/p>\n
Ruthe has stunned the athletics community with a series of blistering performances<\/a> over the past year, knocking off numerous national and world age group records.<\/p>\n In January, he broke Sir John Walker’s long-standing national mile record<\/a> when he clocked 3min 48.88sec at an indoor meet in Boston.<\/p>\n