Athletics: Devizes School star Joe Hutchinson has been selected as part of an elite group of English athletes to compete in the World Schools Cup.

The talented multi-eventer, 16, is one of just six boys to have been picked to travel to Tallinn, Estonia for the competition, which runs from June 25 to June 30.

More than 700 of the best young athletes from over 70 countries worldwide will compete at the event, and Hutchinson believes his all-round skill caught the selectors’ attention.

“I have to do two events at this competition and they knew my multi-eventing background,” he said.

“I’ll do the 110m hurdles, the shot put and also run a leg in the 400m relay team, so versatility was the reason they picked me. It will definitely be the biggest competition I’ve ever done.

“I’ll be competing against the best athletes from Europe and also sides from places like China and Puerto Rico, so it’s a proper worldwide event.”

Hutchinson, who broke the Wiltshire County Schools 400m record in Salisbury on Saturday, says the call-up was a welcome tonic after injury appeared to have ruled him out of July’s World Youth Championships in Italy.

The Team Bath man suffered a fibre tear in his quad earlier in the season which hampered his attempts to make the 200m qualifying time needed to be selected.

“I was pretty surprised to get called but it was like a bonus after injury spoilt my World Youth chances,” he said. “I need to run an elite time before the cut-off date and the injury slowed me down so this was a pretty good pick-me-up.”

Hutchinson will attempt to pass the necessary 21.60 seconds barrier at the South West Schools Championship in Exeter this weekend.

Meanwhile, Chippenham sprinter Elaine O’Neill won the senior 100m at the Super 8 event in Cardiff last Wednesday.