A Visit with former WPIAL champion runner Natalie Bower


Background Info: Latrobe graduate Natalie Bower is one of the most celebrated female athletes in WPIAL history. She earned 12 WPIAL gold medals during her career with the cross country and track & field teams at Latrobe. Bower was the first cross country runner in WPIAL history to win four consecutive WPIAL titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). Vincentian's Marianne Abdalah tied Bower's record in 2016, but they are the only two runners (boys or girls) to win four cross country titles. At the state level, Bower placed fourth in the PIAA three times. Latrobe won a team title in 2005 and placed second in 2008. Bower also won eight WPIAL gold medals in the track & field championships. She won the 1600 run three times (2006, 2008, 2009), the 3200 twice (2008, 2009) and was a member of three 3200 relay teams that won three consecutive titles (2007, 2008, 2009). At the state level, Bower won a PIAA gold medal in the 1600 in 2009 and placed second in 2008. Bower continued her athletic career at Penn State University and lettered all four years in both sports. She qualified for the NCAA cross country and track & championships three times in each sport. As a senior, she a second-team all-american in the steeplechase. Bower is now a pediatric physical therapist.

Natalie Bower's WPIAL championship experience as a cross country runner.
Looking back, it's really neat to see what I accomplished in my high school career. It's amazing that I am only one of two four-time champions in WPIAL history. It was a little disappointing to see that somebody had tied my record, but I'm happy to share the record with her. Winning as a freshman, really set me up to accomplish my feat. There was little or no pressure that year. There was more pressure on me the following years to keep winning, with that target on my back, but I took it as a challege. I went out and had a good time each year.

Bower's WPIAL championship experience in track & field
I was able to win eight WPIAL titles in track & field. Three of them came on relay teams, as we won the 3200 relay three years in a row. I was blessed to have some very good teammates running with me on those relay teams. My biggest accomplishment was the PIAA title I won in the 1600 in my senior year. I placed second the year before.

Bower's thoughts on her profession
I decided to become a pediatric physical therapist because I wanted to work with kids.