Mississippi Track Star Natalie Black, 19, Suddenly Dies at Home

Natalie Black passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, March 1. The 19-year-old athlete, known for her speed on the track and her kindness off it, died at home.

Natalie had competed earlier that day in her team’s first outdoor meet of the season in Clinton before returning home to spend time with her family. After a tedious day on her feet, she fell asleep on the couch but never woke up.

Natalie’s mother, Formeka Black, has spoken out, recalling the excitement her daughter felt on the fateful day, after achieving a triple jump record that surpassed her personal best. She divulged, “We had an amazing last day with her Saturday. From morning till night, we all had an amazing day with her… she was so happy!”

She added, “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!”

Natalie’s sudden passing has left teammates, friends, and loved ones in shock. A native of Terry, Mississippi, Natalie was a dedicated athlete and a source of encouragement to those around her, including the coaches who guided her behind the scenes.

Her warm spirit and infectious smile made a lasting impact on her community. In her honor, family, friends, and teammates gathered for a candlelight vigil at the Belhaven track, ensuring that the light she brought to others continues to shine.

Belhaven University posted about her demise on Instagram, writing, “Belhaven University mourns the loss of sophomore student athlete Natalie Black.”

The Belhaven University Track and Field/Cross Country team has also shared a heartfelt tribute after Natalie’s death. The team remembered Natalie as “someone who Loved the Lord and everyone around her.”

They shared that Natalie embodied the spirit of compassion and camaraderie. This showed via her passion for her sport and the unwavering love she had for her family, friends, and teammates. “She was what the world needed, she was what Belhaven needed,” the team penned.

They added more touching words about the athlete, “There are some who bring a light so great to the world, that even after they have gone, the light remains. Natalie was that Light. She will forever be a part of the team, always in our hearts. Natalie’s Contributions, Achievements, and Legacy will Continue to live on Forever!”

As they grieved, the team extended their deepest sympathies to Natalie’s family, friends, and all who were touched by her welcoming spirit.

Formeka thanked everyone for standing with their family as she recognized the overwhelming support from kin, friends, classmates, and the communities that had been part of her daughter’s journey.

She sent her gratitude to everyone who reached out, including coaches, professors, and Belhaven University parents who remembered them from move-in day.

She was especially touched by Natalie’s teammates and friends who shared cherished photos and videos. “Y’all had answers I didn’t know I needed!!” she declared.

Formeka added, “Please continue to lift us up in prayer. We need them. 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.”

Now, Formeka and her family take comfort in knowing that Natalie’s light will keep shining in the many lives she touched. She co-parented Natalie and her siblings with their father.

In a post on Facebook, she acknowledged the crucial role of her co-parent and expressed gratitude for his unwavering presence and active involvement in their children’s daily lives.

She made it clear that the successes and achievements of their children, including Natalie, were not hers alone to claim. Instead, she credited God’s grace and a strong co-parenting relationship for the positive impact on their lives.

In January 2025, another talented athletic student lost their life in a tragic incident. Tyler Sabapathy tragically fell from a light pole on January 26, suffering critical injuries. Despite efforts to save him, he passed away on January 28.

The unfortunate incident occurred during celebrations following the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFC Championship win over the weekend. A clip shows Sabapathy, a first-year student at Temple University’s College of Public Health, perched on a street pole.

He then tragically fell onto the concrete sidewalk, landing flat on his back and hitting his head. He was rushed to Jefferson Hospital with a brain injury but sadly, succumbed to his injuries two days later.

Sabapathy, originally from Toronto, Canada, was majoring in exercise and sports science at the university. He chose this major due to the insights he gained from his own training experiences.

The teenager faced several injuries during his gymnastics career. Therefore, he developed a deeper understanding of the human body, particularly the muscles, tendons, and ligaments crucial for proper movement, which inspired his career path.

Sabapathy was a member of Temple’s club gymnastics team. Throughout his pursuit of gymnastics, he earned over 120 medals in provincial, regional, and international competitions. He also placed fifth overall at the Atlantis Crown Invitational in the Bahamas.

In the university’s club gymnastics team, Sabapathy was known for his strong work ethic and commitment as she dedicated countless hours to training and perfecting his skills. He was deeply valued by his teammates, friends, and coaches in Philadelphia.

Temple University released a statement paying tribute to Sabapathy. They penned, “The loss of a promising 18-year-old man like Tyler is both tragic and traumatic. There are no words that can make sense of it, and the entire Temple community mourns his passing. Our hearts go out to Tyler’s family, friends, classmates, and all who knew and loved him.”

The gymnast’s journey from Toronto to Temple University was driven by his passion for gymnastics and academics. Sabapathy dedicated much of his childhood to training and competing with the East York Gymnastics Club in Toronto.

His mother played a crucial role in supporting his athletic journey. She tirelessly drove him to and from the gym each week to ensure he could maintain his demanding training schedule.

“I have been training 20 hours a week for the past eight years, split up into five different gym sessions throughout the week. During our time at the gym, we work on our skills across each event and finish with a conditioning circuit,” he revealed.

After he graduated from St. Michael’s College School, Sabapathy found no competitive university gymnastics programs available in Canada, so he explored options in the US, ultimately choosing Temple. The university’s location, academic offerings, and strong gymnastics program played key roles in his decision.

Sabapathy’s guidance counselor at St. Michael’s College School, Kevin Shaughnessy, only had praise for the person he was. “Temple is inheriting a confident, capable, independent, and extremely impressive person and student-athlete in Tyler Sabapathy. He is a positive student with a good nature and strong work ethic that naturally motivates his peers to achieve their best,” he said.

Sabapathy was actively involved in various extracurricular activities at St. Michael’s College School. He was a member of the Common Earth Club, where he nurtured his interest in gardening and environmental discussions.

As part of the Archangel Productions Club, he honed his music production skills. Alongside these passions, he maintained a strong academic standing.

When he was accepted to Temple University, an excited Sabapathy divulged, “Temple has an amazing training facility and a dedicated team of coaches. They are providing me the opportunity to compete in the events that I please and a chance to compete nationally. After meeting and connecting with the team members, I knew it was the right fit for me.”

At Temple, the gymnast’s focus was on five events, including floor exercise, pommel horse, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. His impact at the university was immense as the management reflected on how Sabapathy had a promising future ahead of him.

His tragic passing has left a void, and the community mourns the loss of someone who could have made a significant impact on the world.

Temple University has told its community that it is committed to supporting them through this profound loss, and encouraged students to access available resources, including Tuttleman Counseling Services.

In response to Sabapathy’s fall and subsequent demise, Philadelphia police held an internal briefing on January 28 to assess their response and plan safety measures for future celebrations. Police noted that the crowd on Broad Street that weekend was the largest they had ever encountered.

This time, they chose not to grease the poles on South Broad Street, a decision that aligns with longtime football fans who remain uncertain about its effectiveness as a deterrent.

Instead, police used bike racks to keep crowds in the street while officers patrolled the sidewalks. Ultimately, with Sabapathy’s accident and death, the approach was not entirely effective.

Furthermore, authorities reported 31 citations for disorderly conduct or failure to disperse, along with four assaults on police that led to two arrests. There were also two shootings, and vandals targeted the front of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

Still, Philadelphia mayor, Cherelle Parker, noted, “Listen, by and large, Philly, we celebrated responsibly. I do think our police and emergency responders did an excellent job with crowd control.”

Even so, authorities will need to develop more effective measures to prevent dangerous actions that contributed to Sabapathy’s tragic fall.