Natalie Black shockingly died in her sleep after completing her jump
A young track and field athlete has suddenly died after falling asleep on her couch following a competition.
Natalie Black, a remarkable athlete and a sophomore at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, was sadly discovered dead on March 1, just hours after winning a track and field event that same day.
At only 19 years old, she was remembered as a “true champion” and an “inspiration” to many in the sport. Friends, family, and teammates shared touching tributes, expressing their sorrow over her untimely loss.
The teenager tragically passed away in her sleep (Facebook/Formeka Black)
Natalie had an awesome day in Clinton at the college’s first outdoor meet of the season. She set a new personal best in the triple jump, jumping an impressive 11.01 meters, which earned her second place in her category.
Her graduate assistant coach, Tytavia Hardy, shared with WLBT how excited Natalie was, saying, “She almost knocked me over with her celebration!” This was a big moment for Natalie as she joined the ’11 meter club.’
Head coach Butch Ard also mentioned, “She came over with this attitude like, ‘I know you saw that, coach!’ and I told her, ‘Yeah, I saw it.’”
Natalie’s dad, Toiwarn Black, expressed his pride, saying, “She told me, ‘I’m gonna make you proud,’ and she really did achieve that goal.”
The track star with her mom (Facebook/Formeka Black)
After an incredible victory, the teenager returned to her family’s home in Terry and took a nap on the couch, but sadly, she never woke up.
Natalie’s heartbroken mom, Formeka Black, shared on Facebook that the family had an “amazing last day” with her, filled with joy from morning until night.
She wrote, “She was so happy! That smile! She set a new personal record in the triple jump!”
Later that night, while still celebrating with family, she decided to take a quick nap on the couch and never opened her eyes again. “I THANK GOD. There was no suffering. HE gave us that much Grace!”
“I’m trying to be strong for our boys, but they are being strong for me,” she added. “I’m grateful we can support each other when one of us feels weak. This is a huge loss for our family, and we are taking it one moment at a time.”
At the vigil, her classmates and friends remembered her as a “sweet,” “kind,” and “bubbly person” who was a “true hard worker.”
Her mom and dad attended the candlelit vigil (WLBT)
Formeka was present at the event and shared her thoughts about her daughter, saying, “When she walks into a room, everything changes. She brings so much positivity and love.”
She added, “That girl lived her life to the fullest, always happy and joyful.”
Toiwarn also expressed her feelings about the emotional gathering, stating, “Being here with all the people who loved and cared for my baby is amazing. It’s such a wonderful experience to see and feel all the love and to hear the stories. It’s truly special.”
Many attendees took a lap around the track that Natalie knew so well from her training.
Her coaches and teammates also paid their respects, with Tierra Kelly saying, “She was incredibly sweet and always had the biggest smile.”
“It felt very warm. She always made you feel welcome and comfortable around her,” she added.
Courtney Adams mentioned, “Whenever you were with Natalie, you were guaranteed to laugh.”
Coach Christi Delaughter remarked, “I couldn’t have asked for a better athlete or a better person to be part of our team.”
