Elbert Maxwell Ready to Jump to the Next Level

While it may have been tough to view the distance Elbert Maxwell traveled to the recent Penn Relays and back, it's easy to see where he's headed.

Standing on the Franklin Field track in Philadelphia at the Boys' Long Jump Championships, Maxwell marveled at the hundreds of athletes preparing around him, dressed in the colors of some of the country's top Division 1 colleges.
His blue and white hoodie with the letter "V" near the heart -- a departure from the orange and white of his Hayfield Hawks -- gave him away, not to mention his frequent yells of "Go Nova!" as the school raced to its 24th distance medley relay championship.

"I'm so excited to get there," Maxwell said, after his day representing Hayfield in the Long Jump event ended early with hamstring tightness. "I got a great vibe from the school. The coach has a ton of energy. Their distance program is excellent. I want to be a part of that. It's an honor."

Competing in his first solo event at the oldest and largest track and field event in the U.S. represented a homecoming for Maxwell, who was born in Southwest Philly and lived on Bustleton Ave.

He moved to Virginia as a child with his father, sports agent E. Lindsey Maxwell II, and mother, the former Letty Wright, but visited the land of cheesesteaks every summer.

Lindsey and Letty both starred in track at the University of Pittsburgh -- dad sprinted and mom hurdled -- but Elbert took to the high jump, triple jump and long jump. As a sophomore, he cleared 6'7" in the high jump, which is still his best. His list of accolades is long: All-District, All metro, All regional, District and Regional Champ, No. 1 in class of 2011 in Virginia.

He chose 'Nova over Pitt and University of Virginia.

"It's still Big East, so that was the main thing," Maxwell said.

Maxwell felt tightness in his right hamstring on his first qualifying jump at the Penn Relays, and still heaved himself 21 feet. His best is 22 feet, nine inches.

"There was really no need to push it," Maxwell said. "I don't need to prove myself anymore, really. I'm having fun and it was a blessing to be here. I've had a successful high school career. At this point, I'm looking forward to next year and have to protect my body for when I set foot on Villanova's track."
Also competing for Hayfield were Maxwell's teammate, Renee Reives. The Virginia Military Institute-bound senior finished 13th in the High School Girls' Shot Put Championship with a throw of 38 feet, 6 1/4 inches. The Hawks also sent boys' and girls' relay teams to run in the 4x100 and 4x400 races.

Maxwell has goals beyond Villanova, and they include competing at collegiate nationals and the Olympics. He also understands that his body isn't going to sustain him forever.

"The main thing is that I'm going to Villanova for an education," Maxwell said. "My mom is a teacher, and my parents have always instilled that education is first. I know that eventually your body is going to give up on you."

He wants to get a degree in computer science and go to law school. Eventually, he can see himself doing what his father does, representing sports figures like Washington Wizards' forward Josh Howard, or actors Lamman Rucker and Steve Harvey.

"After track, I want to do all the cool stuff he's been doing," Maxwell said.

If he accomplishes his goals soon enough, perhaps he will represent himself one day.