A track and field athlete tragically died just hours after hitting a personal milestone in competition.
On March 1, Natalie Black, a 19-year-old sophomore athlete at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, competed in Belhaven’s first outdoor meet of the season in Clinton.
She excelled in the competition, delivering a standout performance in the triple jump. Her leap of 11.01 meters earned her second place and marked the best result of her athletic career, WLBT reported.
“She about knocked me over celebrating,” graduate assistant coach Tytavia Hardy said.
Head coach Butch Ard recalled the moment she came off the track: “She walked over like, ‘I know you saw that coach, I know you saw that.’ I said, ‘I saw it.’”
Her father, Toiwarn Black, said Natalie had set her sights on making him proud. “She was like, ‘I’m gonna make you proud.’ And she did that, she absolutely accomplished that goal.”
After the meet, the 19-year-old returned to her family's home in Terry, Mississippi, to celebrate her achievement. That night, still in high spirits, she laid down on the couch to take a nap, and never woke up.
“She was so happy! That smile, man!” her mother, Formeka Black, said. “She made the best triple jump record she ever had, beat her personal record!"
"And later into the night, still celebrating with family, she simply laid on the couch for a little nap and never woke up. I THANK GOD. There was no suffering. HE gave us that much Grace!" she added.
Formeka shared how the family has been coping: “I’m trying to be strong for our boys. Yet, they’re being strong for me. I’m so glad we have each other to lean on when the other can’t even stand. This reality has been a devastating blow to our family and we are taking things minute by minute.”
The sudden loss of Natalie has left a deep impact on her community. At a candlelight vigil in her memory, classmates and teammates described her as “sweet,” “kind,” and a “bubbly person” who brought joy wherever she went.
“When she comes in the room, the energy shifts,” Formeka said. “She's just so positive and loving...That baby lived her life big and happily and joyously.”
Her father, overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, said: “To be out here with all of these people that loved and cared for my baby, is so awesome and it's a great experience to have to just see the love and to feel the love and to just hear the stories, it's great.”
Teammates echoed those sentiments. Tierra Kelly shared, “She was so sweet with the biggest smile. It was very warm. She made you feel like you were welcome and comfortable always around her.” Courtney Adams added, “Every time you're going to be around Natalie, you're going to laugh.”
Head coach Christi Delaughter praised her as both an athlete and a person: “Couldn't have asked for a better athlete or a better person to come and be a part of our team.”
Our thoughts continue to be with Natalie’s loved ones.