The name Ruthe is sweeping across the nation — and beginning to feel inevitable.

First came 16-year-old Sam, hailed as New Zealand’s middle-distance running prodigy, rewriting record books and clocking times quicker than many seasoned elites.

Ruthe drew global attention last year when he became the world’s youngest person to run a mile in under 4 minutes, doing so at 15 years old.

Now, at just 14, his younger sister Daisy Ruthe has stormed into the spotlight, winning the NZ Women’s Under-20 3000m title at the Porritt Classic on Saturday. She is hot on her brother’s tail.

“One day, I would like to be better than him,” she told the Bay of Plenty Times.

The Ōtūmoetai College student said it was just about racing as well as she could.

“I know it sounds a bit funny, but I don’t really think of the races as being different.”

She said during the 3000m race she “just felt good” and kept pushing. Her determination resulted in a time of 9:46.56.

“It came down to the last 150m, and I felt I had a bit more left. It was a lot of fun.”

Daisy said it had been motivating to compete in the same sport as her older brother.

“There is some pressure, but really, that is a privilege because it means that there are reasons you are expected to do well, and I am lucky for that to push me.”

At the end of the year, Daisy aims to set the national 1500m record set in 1985 by Olympian Toni Hodgkinson at age 15.

“That is 4:29.5, and I have run 4:31.0.”

When asked how Sam’s journey had influenced her, Daisy said seeing the fun he had and the places it took him showed her what was possible.

As a national middle‑distance record holder and former New Zealand cross-country representative himself, Daisy and Sam’s dad Ben Ruthe said he was proud of Daisy’s attitude and effort.

Sam Ruthe with his father Ben after becoming the youngest person to break the four-minute mile. Photo / Photosport

“What makes us proud is that she took on the race without any fear and really just wants to challenge herself.

“For her to win is just a bonus.”

Ruthe told the Bay of Plenty Times Daisy had a “real maturity” when it came to racing, and said it was “very rare” to see such a young person so determined. She competed “without any fear”, he said.

“She really knows what she wants to achieve and gives it her all.”

He said for the Ruthe family, it wasn’t all about competition.

“I realise that may sound a bit odd, but for us it is about really giving something your all, and it is the effort and the process that matters.”

New Zealand Secondary School Athletics Association president Tony Rogers commentated the race, and said Daisy’s win was “quite a remarkable feat”.

“It would be very, very rare for any 14-year-old to win a under 20 title, no matter what the age and grade, that’s for sure.”

Rogers said he was most impressed by how Daisy executed the race.

“She had such a mature approach to the race, and I think that’s what will stand her in good stead.”

Having “seen a lot of proteges” in his time, Rogers said Daisy could be equally as good as Sam.

“For young Daisy, she’s got running in the blood, it’s in the family.”

Ruthe’s grandmother, Rosemary Wright (née Stirling), became Scotland’s first woman to win a Commonwealth track gold when she won the 800m at Edinburgh in 1970.

Sam Ruthe and sister Daisy with their grandparents Rose and Trevor Wright.

Grandfather Trevor Wright won a silver medal in the marathon for Britain at Helsinki and competed in the marathon at the 1978 Commonwealth Games.

Sam and Daisy’s mother Jessica (née Wright) was a multiple New Zealand champion across distances from 1500m to 10,000m.

“You’re going to get exceptional talents who’ve got an exceptional background, that break that mould, and people like Sam and now Daisy, that’s very rare,” Rogers said.

Ōtūmoetai College principal Russell Gordon said Daisy’s victory was “exceptional”.

“Competing, and winning, in an under-20 field at her age highlights both her physical capability and her mental maturity.”

He said she approached her sport with focus and humility, and that balance was impressive for someone so young.

“While she comes from a family well known in running circles, she is carving her own path through quiet hard work and consistency.

“We are excited to see where her journey takes her next.”

Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.