Two of Dage Minors’ biggest fans were on hand to lend their support and witness his historical feat in this year’s KPMG Front Street Mile.

Proud parents Delbert and Daltonell Minors observed as the 22-year-old runner became the first Bermudian to win the elite men’s race on Friday night.

Minors blazed to victory in 4 min 33sec after breaking away from the pack around 300 yards from the finish line. Jordan Donnelly, of Britain, crossed in second in 4.34 and Ethiopia’s Girma Bekele third in 4.36.

Minors’ father, a former St George’s Colts footballer, just happened to be standing at the part of the course where his son made the decisive break. “He wanted me at the Cenotaph just for support and when he went pass me side-by-side with the guy who came second I just told him to ‘drop the hammer and run’,” Delbert Minors said.

“He seemed like he was looking at me and just ran and I was listening to Mike [race commentator and cousin Mike Watson] to find out if he had won or not and when I found out he won I came running down the street.

“Everybody was like ‘congrats daddy, congrats daddy’ and I think I have a little hamstring pull now.

“I knew he said he wanted to win it but I didn’t think it was going to come this soon. I am really proud and so happy for him.”

Minors’s mother was too emotional to watch her son’s final strides towards the finish line.

“My sister and everyone said he is coming and is in front so I came out to the barricade for the end of the race but could not watch it because it was too emotional for me,” she said.

“After he won I jumped over the barricade, which is not what you are supposed to do, and when I came to hug him he said to me ‘relax, relax’ so that’s Dage in his humble way.

“My baby has made history and that clicked for me a couple of hours later.

“We are very proud of Dage. He has worked hard and is committed to what he wants to do. He has a plan, he has a focus and that’s just him.”

Franklin Pearce University graduate Minors, who holds the record in the middle schools boys mile, said winning in front of his parents made his historical feat all the more special.

“As a kid growing up I used to see the elite runners and I always said to myself I want to be in that race,” Minors said.

“And to finally go out there and win and to celebrate with my family was good because everyone knew I really wanted that. It was surreal really.”