Bukhala Blake’s Wooster Experience Was More About Fun Than Championships

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).