LONDON, Ont. – Jump specialist Taylor Stewart and thrower Drew Welch announced their commitment to the Western Mustangs track and field program on Monday Dec. 21.  

Both are outstanding talents from London, Ont., said Mustangs track and field head coach Vickie Croley. She said both Stewart and Welch have made their mark on the National Junior (19 and under) track and field scene.  

Stewart, a long jumper and triple jumper shows the most promise as a triple jumper, Croley said, an event which Canada has not had much consistency and success in lately at the international level.  

"The fact that Taylor has jumped over 15 metres and has not done any strength training is impressive and indicates that he should jump much further," Croley said.  

Welch, a shot-put specialist, also demonstrates that he has the physical attributes to compete at a very high level, Croley said.  

"I believe these two young men are two of the top three recruits in Canada eligible for university this (upcoming) year," she said. "Having these two quality student-athletes commit to Western will send a message to the rest of the top track and field athletes across the country to consider Western."

"I'm really optimistic that Taylor and Drew will help Western to be one of the top teams in the country for the next four or five years." 

Athletes who commit to Mustangs teams will be eligible to compete at Western provided they are academically admissible to The University of Western Ontario and have applied through the normal process with the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre in Guelph, Ont.

Here are two of the local recruiting class for the Western Mustangs track and field team. They will both join the Mustangs for the 2010-11 season, pending their OUAC applications.

Taylor Stewart, Triple Jump/Long Jump, London, Regina Mundi College, London-Western Track & Field Club (as of January 2010)
ABOUT: 2009 Bob Gage Award Winner (TVRAA Top Male Track and Field Athlete), 2008 OFSAA Gold in TJ, Bronze in LJ, 2009 OFSAA Gold in TJ, 2008 Canadian Junior LJ and TJ Champion, 2009 Canadian Junior TJ silver medallist and LJ bronze medallist, 2009 Ontario Team Member at Canada Summer Games (21 and under), where he won gold in TJ, member of the 2009 Pan Am Junior Track & Field Team. Head coach Vickie Croley states that, "Taylor is a great all round athlete who excelled for his high school in track, football and basketball.  It will be exciting to see how far he can go now that he is focusing on jumping.  He has all the tools; a high level of speed, strength and power that will make him one of Western's all-time best jumpers and possibly one of Canada's best ever."  

Drew Welch, Shot Put, London, Banting Secondary School, London-Western Track & Field Club
ABOUT: 2008 OFSAA Gold medallist in Shot Put, 2009 OFSAA Silver medallist, 2009 Canadian Junior SP silver medalist, qualified for the Pan Am Junior Championships but declined due to a family wedding, 2007 Canadian Youth Champion, 2007 finished 13th at the World Youth (17 and under) World Championships. Sylvia Kontra, Western's throws coach is quite excited at the prospect of Drew's commitment, "It is always thrilling when our top athletes choose to stay in Canada. With a young group of throwers primarily from this area Drew will fit in well.  With his explosive ability he will make a mark on the CIS immediately.  Currently, Drew has one of the strongest arms in the event, however, he has recently begun to focus on his foot work.  I believe that with his arm strike and improved foot work he will challenge the Western all-time record."