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Comets’ track star Pereira signs with SBU
Cottey Comets’ track standout Oluwabukola “Bukola” Pereira recently signed a national letter of intent to continue her track career with Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.
Pereira, arguably the most accomplished runner in the brief history of the Cottey track-and-field program, collected All-American honors at the NJCAA Outdoor Nationals, last month in Hutchinson, Kan.
“It’s always great to have athletes at our program be recruited at the next level,” said former Comets’ track-and field and cross country coach Austin Bunn, who recently accepted a teaching position with SBU, adding, “especially a national caliber D-2 track team like SBU.”
Bunn said Pereira, a redshirt junior, left an indelible legacy at Cottey, “Bukola leaves as the program’s top runner (since it began three years ago),” he said. “She leaves behind (running) times for girls in the future to strive to beat.”
Pereira’s running career began eight years ago in Lagos, Nigeria, when she was 13. After graduating from high school she came to the United States, attending Central Arizona College, where she was a member of the track-and-field team.
Following her freshman campaign Pereira transferred to Southwestern College in Chula Vista, Calif.
Bunn said he is thrilled for Pereira, as she has had to battle significant injuries over the past three years to get to this point.
“In going to SBU, she brings a wealth of experience to blend with (SBU’s current team),” he said. “She will have a solid team to train with that will only help improve their chances for another cross country conference title, while also helping the track (relay) teams qualify for the nationals.”
Bunn said he discovered Pereira through a recruiting website. Bunn added that when recruiting her, Pereira had one year remaining of junior college eligibility, as her sophomore season at Southwestern College didn’t count against her JUCO clock. The state of California is not part of the NJCAA, according to Bunn.
Bunn said he did everything he could to minimize Pereira’s chances of aggravating her previous injuries. “There were times where she thought she could do more, and I didn’t let her. I didn’t want (the injuries) to come back,” Bunn said, adding that the rehab process lasted approximately five months.
Pereira had previously received heavy interest from several four year schools, before electing to ink with Southwest Baptist University.
“I want to keep running as long as I can,” Pereira told the Daily Mail in March. “It’s something I truly want to do.”