Dedication is a motivator coaches use to measure up their athletes. But no coach has ever questioned SIUC track and field long jumper/triple jumper Brad Bowers’ dedication.

Bowers, a sophomore in marketing from Freeport, has remained dedicated to his sport since his arrival at SIUC last year.

I simply work hard and try to get better and better each week, Bowers said.

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Better is quite an understatement considering he has already increased his personal best in the long jump nearly a foot from his fifth-place Missouri Valley Conference Championships jump of 23 feet 5.25 inches last year. He is also closing in on 50 feet in the triple jump (49 feet 1.75 inches). Last season, Bowers’ best triple jump was only 46 feet 11.5 inches.

Bowers said he has always taken a strong work ethic toward his track and field events.

I started running in sixth grade, and ever since then I’ve took a lot of pride and effort in trying to do my best, Bowers said. I try to go that extra mile and basically just finishing all your workouts. A lot of people just leave or don’t finish things. I feel that’s important if you really want to do well and you want to try to do your best.

Men’s assistant coach Cameron Wright said Bowers has been a model of consistency all season in his jumping events.

He’s worked very hard in the weight room and on the track, Wright said. He is very dedicated to become great. When you have talent plus dedication that equals success.

Bowers wants to step up even more as the year progresses to put him in a higher caliber of jumpers.

It’s been a real good step, Bowers said. I’ve accomplished everything I’ve wanted to so far this year. As of this date, I’m just ready to move up to the next level.

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For Bowers, the next level is a possible MVC Championship to close out the outdoor season in Cedar Falls, Iowa, May 14-17 and a national qualifying jump. Bowers thinks the long jump is his best chance at an NCAA qualifying finish (25 feet 3.25 inches).

Wright thinks Bowers is ready to overtake his old personal bests in one of the Salukis’ upcoming meets.

I see Brad as a jumper on the verge of getting a p.r. (personal record) soon, Wright said. We’ve had some scratches that have reached very far lately. I’m thinking that either at Missouri (the University of Missouri Invite Saturday) or the MVC’s we’ll see that p.r.

With his hard work, I see him reaching 25 feet this year, and possibly 26 to 27 feet in the future. He works so hard and wants it so badly. With his determination he’s going to keep getting better and better.

Bowers said the tutelage of the former Olympian high jumper Wright has helped him in his training.

It helps out a lot, even though I don’t do the high jump and he’s never long jumped or triple jumped, Bowers said. I feel that he knows what I need to be doing as a long jumper because he does a lot of research, plus he’s just a good coach overall.

If I have a problem with any of the workouts I can just easily tell him, I feel we should be doing this,’ and he is open for suggestions because he is pretty new at what he does.

Along with Wright, Bowers has another Olympian jumper that he looks up to his brother Eric, who graduated from Georgia Tech University last year.

He made the finals for the Olympic trials in ’96 in the long jump, so that just shows me if he can jump that far, I feel it could run in the family maybe, Bowers said.

As the season comes to a close, Bowers knows his time is winding down to prepare for the MVC Championships and make the qualifying jump for the nationals. But Bowers said he can picture it happening as he dreams for his next look down a runway.

I try to visualize myself jumping a really long jump, Bowers said. Not at the Olympics or anything, but I just try to picture myself jumping a great jump.