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Dage Minors eyes third straight Butterfield Mile title

Dage Minors will be seeking his third Front Street Mile win in a row, and fourth overall (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

Dage Minors faces a tough challenge in his quest for a third consecutive Butterfield Invitational Mile title tonight.

Minors, who won the race on Front Street in the past two years and in 2018, will need to be at his best to fend off strong competition.

In a field of 15 runners, he faces fellow Bermudian Ryan Outerbridge and British training partner Ben Claridge. Also in contention is Canadian Marcel Aubry, the 2024 runner-up.

“I feel decent as I’ve had a good autumn and early winter,” Minors told The Royal Gazette.

Ben Claridge (163) and Dage Minors (164) racing in the British Milers Club (Photograph supplied)

“My expectations are to compete well and see where that puts me. It’s early in the year, with a big emphasis on summer racing, so this will be a nice break in training.

“It’ll be a good competition. It’s really nice to have two Bermudians in the field, and I hope the crowds can come and cheer us on. It’s also exciting to have Ben racing in Bermuda — he’s a great training partner and mate.”

Outerbridge, who impressed locals by pushing Lamont Marshall in the Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby last year, is eyeing a podium finish.

The 22-year-old’s time of 4min 24.31sec placed him sixth the first time he did the race as a senior two years ago.

“I’m hoping to get on the podium,” said the Franklin Pierce University student.

“If I can hang with the big dogs and see what I’ve got in the tank, that’d be great. Everyone will be watching Dage — he’ll probably dictate the race. I’ll give it my all and hope to get the job done.

“It’s always a good crowd on Front Street. Hopefully, I can give them something to cheer for.”

Minors warmed up by finishing seventh in the South-West Cross-Country Championships in Britain this month.

Gayle Lindsay is competing in the Butterfield Invitational Mile women’s race (Photograph by Brandon Morrison)

“My preparation has been good,’’ he said. I’ve been doing some cross country races, but in the last few weeks I have done a few sessions to prepare for the mile.

“I’m playing a bit of the longer game this year, it’s most likely that I won’t race anything like a mile until June. The next few months will be more cross country and road races being used as part of training.”

Minors will also compete in the BF&M 10K, where he was runner-up to American Colin Cernick last year, and should face good competition from compatriot Sean Trott on Saturday.

“I’m looking to compete in the 10K,’’ Minors added. “The half-marathon on Sunday is more of a training run for me.”

Jake Smith will be the favourite in the high school boys race (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

Claridge, a former British under-23 400m champion, boasts an impressive 3:58 personal best.

“I don’t think there is any real weight of expectation,’’ the 27-year-old said. “The aim is to execute my own race and if that happens to be good enough then great, if not then I’ll be beaten by the better people on the day. I am of course going for the title, the goal is to win every race that I enter.”

“I train with Dage, the competition between him and I is friendly. We have raced together a few times and flew over together to Bermuda, and I’m very excited to race him on his home turf.

“I have followed my normal training plan to prepare for this race. It is early season, but I have thrown a couple of mile specific sessions in to, hopefully, prepare me for Friday night.”

In the women’s race, Bermuda resident Gayle Lindsay is bracing for competition against champion Amy Piccolo and Ginger Reiner.

The May 24 women’s winner is also entering the 10K and half-marathon. Saturday and Sunday’s races will see her rekindle her rivalry with Christine Dailey, as the two chase the half challenge.

“I’m thrilled to be part of another International Race Weekend and can’t wait to join all other participants on the starting lines of each of the three races,” Lindsay said.

“Competing against top international athletes is always a humbling experience and I’m excited to embrace both the opportunity and the challenge.

“As I head into the weekend, I’m focusing on doing my best without putting too much pressure on myself to achieve a specific result. I’ll give it my all and see where that takes me.

“I’m particularly excited about the chance to hear this year’s guest speaker, Sebastian Coe, who is an incredibly inspirational figure in the world of middle-distance running.”

The island’s up-and-coming runners are expected to provide excitement when they compete in their respective age group races. In the high school boys, it should be a close race with a number of familiar names going for the title.

The presence of Jake Smith, Sanchez Smith, Gianluca Bortoli, Jackson Langley, Dylan Eiselt, Tobiah Goodchild and Khari Sharrieff makes it a difficult race to call.

Jaeda Grant, Carina Bortoli, Amaris Munya, Ella Shepherd and Kelise Wade should be contenders for the high school girls title.

Naomi MacGuinness is competing in the middle school girls race for the first time (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

Naomi MacGuinness, who dominated the girls primary school race over the years, is competing in the middle school for the first time. Competition for the 11-year-old is expected from Sukanya Jobson, Sofia Leclerc, Iris Duda, Colette Durkin, Elena Bortoli and Zara Bule.

In the boys middle school, Adam Cenzer, Rory Shepherd and Jacob Leclerc will be tipped for the podium.

Owen Fosker, Matthew Hoey, Horrobin brothers, Liam and Nolan will be favourites for the podium in the boys primary school competition. For the girls, the contest should be between Nea Fosker, Nora Cenzer and Chloe Durkin.

Meanwhile, 2024 champions Dennis Mbelenzi and Rose-Anna Hoey will be absent in the PwC Bermuda Marathon on Sunday.

Mbelenzi, the full challenge champion, has not travelled from Canada for the race because of other commitments, while Hoey opted for the half-marathon. Mbelenzi’s absence could open the door for Adam Prunty, runner-up last year, to claim the men’s race.

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Published January 17, 2025 at 8:19 am (Updated January 17, 2025 at 6:17 pm)

Dage Minors eyes third straight Butterfield Mile title

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