Track star Natalia Sawyer poised to finish collegiate career strong

With only one more outdoor season remaining in her collegiate career, senior Natalia Sawyer is ready to leave one final stamp on her time with the Buffalo State track and field program. The three-time NCAA champion has rewritten the program’s record books and is in prime position to cement her legacy as one of the most decorated athletes in Buffalo State history.

Sawyer, who majors in psychology, arrived at Buffalo State in the fall of 2022 and quickly made an impact by posting the top time in the SUNYAC in the 60-meter hurdles after just her second collegiate meet. Following her first indoor season, Sawyer earned four All-SUNYAC honors and three USTFCCCA All-Region selections. She was also named the SUNYAC Athlete of the Year and Rookie of the Year, while earning her first career All-America recognition in the 400-meter dash. And that was just the beginning.

Sawyer’s first outdoor season featured many of the same achievements, with the new recognition of being named the USTFCCCA Niagara Region Track Athlete of the Year. She also captured her first national title in the 400-meter hurdles and became the first national champion on the women’s side of Buffalo State track and field since Sasha Henry and Jazmin Dunham in 2013. She was joined by teammate Shevaughn Allen, who also won a national championship in the triple jump, making them the first male/female duo in program history to win national titles in the same outdoor season.

The bar was set high for Sawyer entering her second year of collegiate competition. She continued her success by capturing another national championship in the 60-meter hurdles during the indoor season before defending her title in the 400-meter hurdles during the outdoor season. She also finished as the national runner-up in the 400-meter dash during indoor competition and the 100-meter hurdles during outdoor season. Her junior year featured only an indoor campaign, but she continued to exceed expectations as one of the top runners in the country.

“Natalia is a once in a generation athlete,” said Jordan Rodriguez, Cross Country/Track and Field coach. “It’s very hard to put into words her impact on the program since her arrival. She has been a great leader to her teammates and has fought really hard to be at the level she is today.”

Now in her senior year, Sawyer continues to build on an already historic career while setting the stage for a strong finish. Last weekend, she earned four All-SUNYAC honors at the SUNYAC Indoor Championships and also recently competed at the AARTFC Regional Championships.

Next up is her fourth appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships, hosted in Alabama. The meet marks a full-circle moment for Sawyer, as her first NCAA Indoor Championship appearance was also held at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Sawyer currently holds 13 All-SUNYAC honors and 20 USTFCCCA All-Region selections. She has been named the SUNYAC Track Athlete of the Year five times and is a seven-time All-American. With four more All-America honors, Sawyer would match the program record of 11 currently held by Jazmin Dunham.

Sawyer also holds several school records, including the indoor 800 meters (2:16.00), indoor 400 meters (54.86), and the 60-meter hurdles (8.47). Outdoors, she owns the program records in both the 100-meter hurdles and the 400-meter hurdles.

Top photo by Riley Damerell; inset photo courtesy of SUNYAC Sports.