Rising middle distance star Dage Minors will be returning home to compete in the KPMG high school mile this week after an encouraging weekend overseas.Minors, competing for his St Johnsbury Academy in the High School Boys’ Seeded Mile at the Dartmouth Relays in New Hampshire, finished fifth overall in a field of 25.His impressive time of four minutes, 24.82 seconds was four seconds behind eventual winner Bryce Kelley (4:20.13).The time put Minors in the top six in the New England region that includes New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut.“It feels good to run that time because that puts me among the best (New England Region),” he said. “The race was different for me than other ones in that normally I like to hang in the middle of the pack and try to kick.“This time around my coach wanted me take a different approach and go after the race because I had nothing to lose.“This was the first big meet of my season, there was another small one in late December but looking at the results from last year’s New England Championships, my recent time puts me in the top six in all New England. That was the goal.”The 17-year-old won the Front Street high school category last year, staging a comeback in the final metres to pip Juma Mouchette to the tape in a time of 4:34.6.While Minors is looking forward to racing this weekend another Bermudian’s hopes of competing have been dashed.Aaron Evans had hoped to race in Men’s Elite event but he’s still recovering from an injury sustained last month.The 800 metres star dropped a weight on his foot two weeks’ ago and has been unable to train.“He injured himself just before Christmas,” said Bermuda National Athletic Association (BNAA) President Donna Watson. “A weight fell on his foot during training. Fortunately nothing serious but he has been unable to train.“He was asked (to run in the Elite) and up until the point of the accident he was going to be running.”Local runners Lamont Marshall, who competed in last year’s race, and Shaquille Dill will be involved in the race.