When Univer Bukhala Blake notes her Òtrack memories are the
highlight of her Wooster experience,Ó most people would
assume that she is referring to either the four All-American
certificates she received as a jumper or the 10 individual North
Coast Athletic Conference titles she won.
But no, Blake modestly states, ÒI had a lot of fun
traveling, seeing new places and meeting new people.Ó
That pretty much sums up Blake, who was more concerned with having
fun and trying out new things than being one of the greatest women
athletes ever at Wooster.
One of those new things that she wanted to try was the triple
jump, but then-Scot coach Craig Penney was a little bit hesitant.
After all, Blake, who came to Wooster as a sprinter and long jumper
from the Alliance Girls School in Nairobi, Kenya, had excelled as a
freshman in those events, finishing among the top-three in the 100
meters, 200 meters, long jump, and 4x100 relay at the 1985 NCAC
Championships.
Initially, Penney was against the idea simply because four events
was enough to concentrate on, however, following some pleading from
Blake, he allowed it. And, when her first-ever triple jump exceeded
35 feet, he knew he had one of the best in the nation competing for
the Black and Old Gold.
Blake went on to an unbelievable run over the next three
springs.
As a sophomore, she was named the Most Valuable Track Performer at
the 1986 NCAC meet after winning all four of her individual events
and anchoring the first-place 4x100 relay team. Blake advanced to
nationals, where she earned her first All-American certificate with
an eighth-place finish in the long jump (18Â01.00Ó)
and also placed ninth in all of NCAA Division III in her new event
(37Â02.75Ó).
In 1987, she received Most Valuable Field Performer honors for her
showings at the conferenceÂs indoor and outdoor events. Blake
won the long jump and triple jump at both meets, while also helping
two relay teams to NCAC championships. She concluded her junior
season with her second All-American performance ´ a
third-place showing in the triple jump at the NCAA Championships
(38Â04.00Ó).
Blake repeated her double Most Valuable Field Performer feat as a
senior, which was highlighted by winning triple jumps of
36Â06.75Ó (indoor) and 38Â02.50Ó
(outdoor) that still stand today as NCAC Championships-records.
Then, she nearly capped her career with a national championship.
BlakeÂs leap of 38Â09.00Ó was just three inches
shy of the top triple jump at the 1988 NCAA Championships, as she
wound up second in that event and eighth in the long jump
(18Â01.00Ó).
Now living in Upstate New York, Blake used her chemistry degree at
Wooster to become an independent environmental scientist. She is
actively involved in the Association of Women in Science as well as
the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and in
mentoring youth interested in the sciences. Personally, she is
married to James Blake and the couple has two children ´
Thandi (9) and Savannah (2).
