Dage Minors further enhanced his middle-distance running reputation after breaking the national mile track record.

Fresh from competing at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, the 26-year-old made an immediate return to action at the West Chester Mile in Pennsylvania, where he finished sixth in 4min 2.09sec.

In doing so, he bettered the previous mile record of 4:03.24 set by Terrance Armstrong in 1997.

While Minors fell short of achieving his target of a sub-four-minute mile, he was more than satisfied to add another national record to his collection.

“It was a bit of a weird race for myself,” said Minors, who also holds the national 1,500 metres record of 3:41.24. “I had literally flown in a day before the race from the Commonwealth Games and I was pretty jet-lagged.

“My goal was to run under four minutes but on the last lap I knew I didn’t have what was needed.

“However, I’m still really proud to have broken the national record. I want to stamp my authority over the middle distance and cement my legacy as one of the best Bermuda has produced. It’s always great to break records and that’s what I aim to keep doing.”

Minors is adamant the much coveted sub-four-minute mile is not out of his reach as he pointed to the less than ideal race preparation for his latest attempt, coupled with the physical and emotional toll of competing at the Commonwealth Games.

“My 1,500 metres personal best is the equivalent to a 3:58 mile, but obviously you have go out and perform at the time.

“Physically, I know I can do it but coming off of an eight-hour flight and straight into a race wasn’t ideal. It was tough but because there are not many chances to compete over the mile distance I knew I just had to go for it.

“There was also the after-effect of the Commonwealth Games. It was a big ask mentally coming from an event like that with the huge build-up, the opening ceremony, competing and just being part of that experience. It was a great experience but it’s hard going straight back into another race.

“I might have fallen short of my target but I have the silver lining of the national record. I just hope I’ll get more chances to race over the distance more early next year.”

Despite a gruelling season, Minors is determined to end the campaign in style as part of a ten-member Bermuda team competing at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association Senior Championships in Freeport, Bahamas, starting on Friday.

“This will be my last race of the season so I really want to go out on a high,” he said. “It’s been a long season and I can tell I’m feeling tired, but I want to maintain that high intensity and finish strongly.

“I feel like I’ve had a really strong year. Some people have said it’s been a breakthrough, but myself and my coach expected it, really. I just want to keep that going heading into this last race.

“I haven’t really set any goals or targets, I just want to compete well because that’s always my approach heading into an event.

“If it’s a tactical race, I’ll approach it that way and if it’s fast from the beginning, then hopefully I can push for a new personal-best time.”