Local 11-year-old sets national age-group record in the shot put

She launched the 6-pound iron ball into the air and it landed with a thud, kicking up dirt and chalk. And when the dust settled, the event judge stretched the tape tight and measured the throw.

It was a new national age-group record for 11-year-old shot put phenom Addyson Smith of Madera.

Her prodigious heave of 40 feet, 7 1/2 inches on her final attempt at the Amateur Athletic Association's National Junior Olympics qualifier in Tulare, June 19-20, had just easily won the shot put event and set the record.

The shot put, along with the discus and javelin, are usually thought of as a displays of strength by testosterone-laden behemoths whose grunting and yelling accompany each throw along with ostentatious celebrations and often over-the-top self promotion from the winner.

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Paul Stanford Paul Stanford is the sports editor for the Madera Tribune. You can contact Paul at 674.8134 ext. 225 or e-mail at pstanford (at) maderatribune.net The Madera Tribune online subscription To subscribe or log on, CLICK HERE. For more information first, CLICK HERE.