Dage Minors is focused on continuing his superb season in his two middle-distance events at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Minors has enjoyed several highlights this season, setting a school record in his final outing for Franklin Pierce University at the NCAA Division II Championships in Charlotte, North Carolina, in May.

The 22-year-old, who will run in the 800 and 1,500 metres in Barranquilla, shattered his own 800 record at the event to earn All-American First Team honours for the sixth time in his collegiate career.

He also became the first Bermudian to win the KPMG Front Street Mile elite men’s race in January before breaking his indoor record in the 800 in 1min 47sec at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston a month later.

“I’ve had a lot of highlights this season,” Minors said. “I’m very excited to be heading to CAC games. My goals and ambitions are the same, which is to put myself in a position to do well and usually the time will take care of itself.

“In championship races you never know what can happen. Sometimes they are tactical.”

“I don’t know much about my rivals. I’ve seen a few of the rankings that they have for the region and think that I can compete. I try not to pay much attention to my rivals.”

Minors had his first taste of a multi-sport event at the World University Games in Taiwan last August but missed the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, in April because of school commitments.

He hopes the CAC Games can be the start of a successful international career for Bermuda and has already set his sights on reaching the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru, next summer and the Toyko Olympic Games in 2020.

“My plans athletically are to continue representing my country at a high level,” he said. “Obviously the Olympics is the ultimate goal for any athlete so, of course, I will aim for that.

“I’m still only 22, so I think I can look at both 2020 and 2024.”

Also included in Bermuda’s squad for the CAC Games is Ki-Juan Minors, Dage’s older brother, who will compete in show jumping. “I’m extremely excited that my brother and I will be competing,” Minors added: “Unfortunately the equestrian is like two hours away from the main village via a flight, so I’m not sure if I will make it.

“But for our family it’s a proud moment and something that we will surely reminisce about in the years to come.”

Despite having best years in front of him, Minors has one eye on the future and has accepted an assistant coaching position at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire.

“I will be assistant coach so I’ll have a lot of responsibilities and will be aiding my head coach and connecting with the athletes on a more individual level,” he said. “When all is said and done in my running career, I’ll look to become a coach, so getting a head start now while also training and competing will not hurt.”

The CAC Games run from July 19 to August 3 and will involve almost 6,000 athletes from 37 nations competing in 470 events.