Lynn Bjorklund is an American

long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely aerobic in nature and requires stamina as well as mental strength. Within endurance running comes two d ...

originally from

Los Alamos, New Mexico Los Alamos is an census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, that is recognized as the development and creation place of the Nuclear weapon, atomic bomb—the primary objective of the ...

. In 1975, she set the U.S. high school record in the

3000 metres The 3000 metres or 3000-metre run is a track running event, also commonly known as the "3K" or "3K run", where 7.5 laps are run around an outdoor 400 m track, or 15 laps around a 200 m indoor track. It is debated whether the 3000m shoul ...

run, a record which stood until 2013. In 1981, she also set the female course record for the

Pikes Peak Marathon The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon is a trail running competition that begins at the base of Pikes Peak, in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and climbs over 7,815 feet (2382 m) to the top of the 14,115 foot (4302 m) peak. Since 1956, the event takes p ...

. As of 2010 she is employed as a

park ranger A ranger, park ranger, park warden, or forest ranger is a law enforcement person entrusted with protecting and preserving parklands – national, state, provincial, or local parks. Description "Parks" may be broadly defined by some systems in th ...

. Bjorklund rapidly gained national prominence after she won the girls' division of the National

Amateur Athletic Union The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is an amateur sports organization based in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. It has ...

(AAU) Cross Country Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She won consecutive titles at the

USA Cross Country Championships The USA Cross Country Championships is the annual national championships for cross country running in the United States. The championships is generally held in mid-February and it serves as a way of designating the country's national champion, as ...

in 1974 and 1975. She came in seventh place at the

World Cross Country Championships World Athletics Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Formerly held annually and organised by World Athletics (formerly the IAAF), it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the Int ...

in 1976. On October 8, 1997, Bjorklund was camping with her brother in the

Pecos Wilderness The Pecos Wilderness is a protected wilderness area within the Santa Fe National Forest and Carson National Forest. The Pecos Wilderness lies within the Camino Real Ranger District of the Carson National Forest, and the Pecos Ranger District and Es ...

near

Santa Fe, New Mexico Santa Fe ( ; , Spanish for 'Holy Faith'; tew, Oghá P'o'oge, Tewa for 'white shell water place'; tiw, Hulp'ó'ona, label= Northern Tiwa; nv, Yootó, Navajo for 'bead + water place') is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. The name “S ...

when the two witnessed a plane crash. The pilot and his passenger were burned and injured. In a rescue attempt, Bjorklund covered of rugged terrain on foot in less than three hours. She guided two helicopters to the crash site, and the two men were airlifted to safety.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bjorklund, Lynn Living people American female long-distance runners American female cross country runners People from Los Alamos, New Mexico Track and field athletes from New Mexico Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century American women