 |
Roger Rabbits with |
“It’s not over til the fat lady sings.”
But it wasn’t a full-bosomed, heavily-built soprano belting out the long final aria of a Wagnerian opera. It was a powerful and graceful work by a very different artiste.
A tall, lean, leggy teenage athlete striding out of the gloom and chill of a late autumnal eve. It was after 9pm, the last event on the card. But the big West Auckland crowd at the Track Stars athletics meet at Henderson on March 7 – they love their sport out there - was there for some astronomy, a star bright on the Bay of Plenty skyline. Our Sam Ruthe.
There’s a young man who’s commanded a share of column inches, and radio and TV time, for someone so young. He’s everywhere. And deservedly so.
Okay – there were other big names on stage at the Track Stars that Saturday night out west. Hamish Kerr, Tom Walsh, Zoe Hobbs et al. But really, they were pretty much the chorus, while front of stage, the “primo uomo”, the “first man” in this opus, was Ruthe. It’s a moment worth reliving.
Love fest
Such is Ruthe’s magnetism, the Westies didn’t care there would be no scrap with Tauranga sparring partner, Sam Tanner – the man with whom he dead-heated the national senior 1500 metres last year. Even photos and 100ths of a second couldn’t split them that night. Historic, rare, exciting stuff.
So this time, Tanner injured, and Ruthe alone, centre stage, and rampant.
It wasn’t that he won the 1500 metres title outright by more than six seconds, or about 60 metres. They’re just numbers. It was how he won. Into the back straight and the run home, the race turned into a mutual love fest. Ruthe appeared to throttle off to engage with his adoring fans, to wave and smile. The crowd went nuts, leapt from their seats to cheer him to the tape. At just 16 years old, he’s figured out how to connect with his fan base. He loves running, succeeding and entertaining. And the entertained sense a maturity, a niceness, a kind of fundamental force of nature, and a gracious winner who influences and uplifts.
A rare animal
Never met the young man, but from what I read and hear, he is a well-rounded, thoroughly agreeable and thoughtful chap with great values. Throw in a strong, smooth, elegant running stride – a man who dazzles on the track, and charms off it. A rare animal indeed.
Anyhow, after the theatrics on the back straight , Ruthe explained he just wanted to say “thank you”. Can’t remember his exact words but along the lines that the crowd had turned out in their thousands, had stayed around in the chill to watch him run the very last event, and he was “very grateful”.
What a delight. And the crowd returned the love – they remained standing and cheering. Thank you Sam. You’re now a token Westie. You have now been granted the freedom of Lincoln Rd. You just need a souped-up, cut-down Mazda Rotary to be totally one of them.
There was a crowning moment.
‘It’s only running
After the race as Ruthe mingled with the adoring throng for selfies and autographs, a young kid scored the big prize when he hit up Ruthe for his race bib – the runner’s name and identifier number.
Ruthe ripped it off his singlet, signed it, wrapped it with a smile, and handed it to the boy. A friend saw all this unfold. “Just a neat, memorable gesture.”
You can bet the new owner of the bib is dining out on that keepsake. Why wouldn’t he?
Ruthe once tried to explain away the adulation – “it’s only running,” he said. But it’s not. We all knows it’s not.