University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Natalie DeRatt Looking to Make US Bobsled Team
10.10.2014 | Track and Field
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Former UNC Asheville track and field star Natalie Pearson DeRatt came close to making the Olympics in the 200 meters in 2012.
Now she's closing in on that Olympic dream in a different sport being helped by some former teammates.
Natalie ran for the Bullldog track and field programs from 2006-2011 and became the greatest sprinter in school history. She became the first and only Asheville performer to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 200 meters in 2010 and 2011.
In 2012, Natalie came close to making the Olympics for England but fell just short.
Now she's looking to make the Olympics in a different sport. For the past few months, she has been training to make the U.S Bobsled team in the Skeleton event.
And she's been getting some help from some old friends. Keith Scruggs began on the baseball team before coming over to the track and field squad and was a member from 2006-2010. He was a hammer thrower for the Bulldog program.
Keith learned under former Bulldog assistant Brad DeWeese. Brad is one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the nation and at one time worked at the training center in Lake Placid. He taught Scruggs well and now he's training Natalie.
“I was ready to leave Asheville when I was here but Natalie told me to stay and keep working,” admitted Scruggs. “I wouldn't have this opportunity to train her without her. I'm really grateful.”
For the past few months, Natalie has been training hard in this new event. She has been invited and has performed very well at the preliminary push and elite push camps, including a camp at Lake Placid two weeks ago.
She'll be going back to Lake Placid next Thursday starts the National Push Championship. If she moves on from there, Natalie will compete in the Olympic trials for a shot at a spot on the national. The Trials are in two parts, first in Lake Placid then in Park City, Utah.
She's also getting help from in her training from current Bulldog strength coach and former teammate Omar Ahmad along with current track and field assistant coach Joel Williams.
“We're really proud of Natalie for what she accomplished here at UNC Asheville,” stated Williams. “It's exciting to watch her try a whole different event and see how far she's come in just a short few months. No one will work harder than Natalie to make this team.”
