Dage Minors has explained how his passion for his sport has led him to an award-winning college career in the United States.

The Bermudian was named Northeast-10 Track Athlete of the Year and ran the fifth- fastest 800 metres of all-time in NCAA Division II this winter for Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire.

“I played soccer in Bermuda, but it didn’t really drive me like running is,” Minors told the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. “I love track, I am a true fan of track.”

Minors ran in the prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia over the weekend, where Franklin Pierce came 14th in the college men’s sprint medley championship of America and 15th in the college 4x800 metres relay.

Minors ran the fastest time in Division II indoors with a 1min 48.7sec effort at Boston University and said that run “didn’t come out of nowhere, but if felt like it came out of nowhere.”

Minors explained that he is very happy to be part of a team at Franklin Pierce.

“They run because they like to run, and like they want to prove a point,” he said. “We have each other’s backs.”

Minors was recruited by coach Zach Emerson out of St Johnsbury Academy in Vermont and is glad he went where he did.

“When I was in the recruiting process, most coaches told me I was one of a hundred guys they were recruiting,” Minors remembers. “Emerson saw something in me that other coaches didn’t see in me, and took a chance on me.”

The Bermudian is studying sports and recreation management and wants a lifelong involvement in athletics.

“I can see myself coaching track and field for the rest of my life,” Minors said. “I love it and hope I can take what I learnt and pass it along.”