A Southern Illinois University (SIU) Saluki track and field star who has dealt with injuries and setbacks saw that all pay off with a senior year appearance at the NCAA Championships.
"For me to make the NCAA championships meant a lot to me," Bradley Sauer told Southwest Illinois News. "Going from my various injuries to being able to come back and qualify after falling short for so many years was a large accomplishment in my eyes."
His coach was equally pleased.
"One of my biggest coaching goals of this season was to make sure my seniors made it to the NCAA Nationals," Coach JC Lambert told Southwest Illinois News. "I was three-fourths successful in the Outdoors and I was thrilled he was one of them, since it was his first time qualifying for Outdoor nationals."
Sauer was a three-sport athlete at Murphysboro High School, being named All-State in track and wrestling as well as a two-time All-Conference selection in football. He focused on track at Southern Illinois University, garnering nine top-three finishes as a freshman, including winning the discus at the Memphis Tiger Invitational with a throw of 49.43 meters. He qualified for the NCAA Regionals, and competed in the D-I West Prelims in the hammer throw.
The accomplishments continued building in his sophomore year, including being named a second-team All-American in the weight throw, all-Mountain Valley Conference (MVC) in the indoor Weight Throw and outdoor Hammer Throw, and a MVC Scholar-Athlete. But during a three-board bench press at 550 pounds, Sauer tore his left labrum, and later injured his left knee. The surgeries (which included seven anchors placed in that left shoulder) led him to miss the entire 2013-14 season.
Sauer came back strong, once again being all-MVC in indoor Weight Throw and outdoor Hammer Throw his next season. And he capped off the comeback of his career with his qualification for the NCAA Championships for the hammer throw. In fact, Sauer's four longest throws came in his final two months of competition, which both Sauer and his coach attribute to his hard work.
"I attribute the farther throws at the end of the season to Coach Lambert," Sauer said. "His wisdom and know-how to train are extremely valuable and he had me set up to compete very well at the national level. We both knew there was more on the table but overall we are happy with my performance."
"I worked him hard for six weeks once we got outdoors because I planned for him to have an extended season (regionals and nationals)," Lambert said. "He was a little impatient with the process at first, but then when I switched his training up to start opening up his throwing, he started to see the process and benefits. He also really applied himself to training hard this year and seemed very focused."
Unfortunately, Sauer was facing a tough field at the NCAA Championships, and only managed to place 18th.
"Of course there is some sense of disappointment," he said. "To have come that far and have the chance to perform but fall short hurts. But I am walking away from it with my head held high. I was within just a few feet of my personal record (PR), which is something very hard to do at a championship meet. Also, this year's hammer competition was one of the strongest ever and I would have had to best my PR by three meters just to make the final. I had more in me, but I know that I gave it my all so I am happy."
Lambert noted his leadership qualities.
"Brad was very motivating and was a team leader," Lambert said. "It was great to watch him get fired up in a competition. When he was doing well, it seemed like everyone else followed. He also (continued to help) SIU Track and Field by qualifying for doth Indoor/Outdoor Nationals and earning his first-ever NCAA All-American Award indoors with a fifth place finish. I'm very proud of him and wish him the best of luck."
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