Dage Minors is set to showcase his talents at the KPMG Bermuda Front Street Elite Men’s Mile next month.

The Bermudian middle-distance runner, who is working towards a master’s degree in business administration at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire, is looking forward to making his first appearance in the event in several years.

“I’m excited to be racing the Front Street Mile as I haven’t done it since my last year in high school,” Minors told The Royal Gazette. “Training this fall has been perfect. I started up a few weeks after the World University Games in Taipei in late August. I was back with my college coach as I’m getting my MBA.

“This was the first time in a while that I hadn’t run a cross-country, so it was different training day in and day out and not having any races to show for how I have been doing. So, the months of September, October and November took a lot of individual focus to stay positive and motivated.”

Minors produced a podium display in the men’s mile event at last weekend’s Boston University Season Opener meet. He finished third in 4 min 6sec.

“I was pleased with that result and puts me in a nice position for, not only Front Street Mile, but the whole of 2018,” he said.

Minors ended his senior year at Franklin Pierce in spectacular fashion, after being named as the outdoor season’s East Region Track Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the first time.

He was also the USTFCCCA’s selection for the award each of the past two indoor seasons. Across the nation’s eight regions, Minors was one of four male athletes to pick up both indoor and outdoor track Athlete of the Year awards in 2016-17.

Minors could come up against local rival Chayce Smith, who is also keen to compete in next month’s Elite Men’s Mile.

“I want to run the Elite Mile and I intend to write a letter to [race director] Mike Charles,” the newly crowned national cross-country champion said. “The qualifying mark is usually anything under 4:20 and I am looking to achieve that at the next track meet.”

Smith could get his chance to qualify today when the Bermuda National Athletic Association stages a track meet at the National Stadium, starting at 1pm.