Dyer, Edwards motivate each other

William Edwards (left) and Dominic Dyer.

If you spot one, you’ll likely spot the other. Dominic Dyer and William Edwards are two of Cayman’s top middle distance and longer distance runners. The teenagers go to school together, they train together, they race together, and they’ll be heading back to the Flow CARIFTA Games together.

They both competed in the 3,000m and 1,500m events in the U18 boys’ division in Grenada last year, with Dyer winning silver and bronze in those races. As they move up an age group, they also increase one of their distances for the Games in Curacao, moving from 3,000m to 5,000m in which they’re both comfortable, having done well on the local 5K circuit.

Dyer puts in the work on his last training day ahead of CARIFTA.

“Obviously, hoping to improve on my performance from last year,” said Dyer, with gold clearly on his mind. He said moving to the 5,000m should pay dividends for him. “That plays to my advantage because I’m better over the longer distances. If I can take that race out from early, I can win it,” he told CaymanSportsBuzz.com.

“This year, I’ve been working on my longer stuff more. I’ve upped my mileage and it’s been paying off. I ran PBs in the 1,500m, the 3,000m and the 5,000m and they’re all significant PBs, so this is probably my best lead-up to CARIFTA. So, I’m hoping for the best,” the 18-year-old added.

Edwards, 17, assessed his chances ahead of CARIFTA. “I’m feeling more confident about the 1,500m because I feel I have better closing speed than I did last year, and I’m hoping for the best in the 5K. Usually, the CARIFTA 5K is pretty slow, so I’m hoping I’ll be able to medal there,” he said.

He said he heads into the Games this year more confident than last year, when he finished down the field in both events. “Last year, I went in a little bit tired and over-trained but this year, I’m taking a different approach and I’m hoping it pays off,” Edwards said.

Edwards is looking forward to better performances this year.

Dyer, who has won just about every 5K race he’s entered in the past few months said he enjoyed working with Edwards, who was also near the front of the pack in those events. “Obviously, we do a lot of our training together. We spend a lot of time together, so that’s great. Just motivating each other and working off each other.”

While he’s confident and has hopes of medalling, Edwards knows beating his 345 Athletic Club and Cayman Prep and High School teammate to the podium will be a challenge, but he’s up for it.

“If the race is slow, I think I can beat him in a 400m [sprint to the finish] but other than that, I don’t think I have a chance,” he said.

Here’s hoping they both make the podium in Curacao and keep the friendly rivalry alive. They are part of a 15-athlete team representing the Cayman Islands at the 2017 Flow CARIFTA Games from 15-17 April.

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