Manitoulin shot-putter heading to world youth meet

Manitoulin Island native Joseph Maxwell, a frequent competitor at track & field events in Sudbury, has been named to the Athletics Canada 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships team that will compete in Cali, Columbia next month.

The home-schooled 17-year-old thrower first rose to prominence locally through the Legion Track & Field Championships program, annihilating all competitors en route to back to back national titles.

Taking part in a Twilight Meet hosted by Track North a couple of weeks back, Maxwell sailed the shot put 19.44 metres, well beyond the IAAF World Youth standard of 18 metres, and nearing his personal best toss of 19.81 recorded in Brampton last summer.

Maxwell is one of just 21 male athletes named to the Canadian Youth team, with the squad scheduled to compete from July 15-19.