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Pia Blake has had a busy summer competing in orienteering in Europe.

Starting in June, Blake competed in Finland’s Jukola Relay with a contingent of Yukoners. As the only Yukon team to compete in the massive orienteering event, they finished in the top third.

Next, she suited up at the junior world championships where she had a career-high finish in the sprint – the first time a Canadian has made the finals in four years.

Blake, who attends B.C.’s Simon Fraser University for applied science, has been training in Hungary in preparation for the university champs. She is one of two women competing at the event. Emma Sherwood, (University of British Columbia) also competed at junior worlds.

So far, Blake has been the top Canadian female at the competition. In the 3.3-kilometre sprint, she finished 61st, seven minutes back from the podium.

The urban course took athletes through parks and past colourful gardens.

Yesterday, Blake ran the long course in 2:10:54, nearly an hour back from first.

The 9.8-kilometre course went through a forested area with 420 metres of elevation gain over 20 controls. She was again the top Canadian.

Today in Miskolc, Blake ran the first leg of the Canadian team sprint relay. She got the team started in 22nd and passed off the second leg to Damian Konotopetz (University of Calgary), who remained in 22nd. The third leg was run by Adam Woods (University of British Columbia) who had a mispunch and the team, which also included Sherwood was not awarded a time.

There are two events left at the university orienteering championships. Tomorrow, the athletes are back to individual events with the middle distance course, and Thursday they run a final relay.

The Canadian team also includes Chalmers University of Technology’s Robert Anderson, and Carleton University’s Eric Kemp and Robert Graham.