MONCTON, N.B. - A pair of Western Mustangs track and field recruits qualified for the World Junior Championships after strong performances at the World Junior Trials held in Moncton, N.B.

Both Drew Welch and Taylor Stewart advance to the World Junior Championships July 19-25, also in Moncton.  

Welch and Stewart, both of London, Ont., won their events.  

Welch threw 18.13m to win the shot put, while the next closest competitor threw 17.35m.  

Stewart set a Canadian Junior Championship Record in qualifying with a long jump of 7.61m on Friday July 2.  He went on to win with a jump of 7.30m into a head wind. The second-place athlete leaped a distance of 6.99m.  

Welch and Stewart are the first two Western athletes to qualify for the World Junior Championships since Olympian Jessica Zelinka did so in 2000.

In all, four London, Ont., natives qualified for the world juniors. Brandon Wilhelm, from Woodstock, Ont., and the London Legion track and field club was also named to the World Junior team in the high jump Another Londoner, Jessica Parry won the 1500m to qualify as well.  Parry, Welch and Stewart compete for the London-Western Track and Field Club.

Competition wrapped up Sunday July 4.