Christine Bjelland

Steve Virgen

Blue-collar. Hard working. Time-clock punching. She’s nails. Those

are the statements best identified with Costa Mesa High junior cross

country star Christine Bjelland, who has continued to fulfill the

expectations of her coaches.

So when Bjelland (pronounced Be-yell-lend) had to run in mid-90

temperatures in the Laguna Hills Invitational last week, she had

absolutely no fear. In fact, because of her recent late-summer

training, Bjelland is accustomed to running in adverse conditions.

Before the school year started, she spent a week’s vacation in

Hawaii. Some vacation. Bjelland ran every morning she was there.

“It was hot there and it was humid,” Bjelland said. “That

definitely made Laguna Hills seem OK.”

At the Laguna Hills Invitational Sept. 14, Bjelland paced herself,

yet she still wanted to find out the results of her religious-like

off-season training habits. Well, she won the Division III junior

girls division with an 18:30 clocking. Her time was the second best

of the day in any of the girls divisions.

She’s nails, indeed.

“She’s the kind of girl you get once in 20 years,” Costa Mesa

Coach Glenn Mitchell said of the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week.

“She just knows what she’s doing. She’s only a junior in high school.

She’s only 16. I hope she keeps running for another 16 years.”

Bjelland has also become a leader for the Mustangs this season,

and she has become the program’s poster child, so to speak.

“She is a great example of that you have to work and you have to

work hard in this sport,” Mitchell said. “She is so far ahead of the

rest of the team. We have a young team. She’s going to do nothing but

help the program. Sometimes we run out there with the (Costa Mesa)

junior high program. They see Christine and they want to try harder

and others want to come out for the team.”

Bjelland’s leadership has been important since Mitchell is

planning to build a strong team around her for this year, and

especially next season. Frosh-soph runners Araceli Mendoza, Hanh

Nguyen, Anna Rodriguez and Catherine Connell are attempting to follow

the high standard set by Bjelland. It’s the standard of hard work and

dedication to running. That was displayed throughout Bjelland’s

sophomore track and field season.

Bjelland consistently competed in four events, the 800-, 1600-and

3,200-meters, and the 1,600 relay. She qualified for CIF Division III

in three events, but decided to drop the 800 so she could concentrate

on the longer distances. But if Costa Mesa had the chance to win the

Division III title, she would have competed in as many events as she

could.

Her favorite event is the relay because she enjoys watching and

being a part of the four runners striving for one goal.

“She’s real mature,” Mitchell said. “She comes from a family of

runners. Her uncle ran for Joe Fisher at Costa Mesa. Her mom and her

aunt ran at UCLA. (Christine) has had that professional look to run.

She does all the right things. That’s something you can’t coach. It’s

like the linebacker who knows it’s going to be a run on a

third-and-one. She’s automatic.”

Though Bjelland does come from a family line of runners, she is

quite young in her sport. She started running and training

consistently two years ago. Yet once she did start, she didn’t stop.

Her passion for the sport continues to grow.

“I just decided to stick with running and work hard, eventually it

will pay off,” Bjelland said. “I’ll probably run in college and keep

on running after college.”

Last year in cross country, Bjelland did not advance to CIF

competition. That has been her motivation ever since. This season,

her first goal is to work hard, and then she wants to earn a CIF

patch for her letterman’s jacket.

“I definitely want to make it to CIF this year,” Bjelland said.

“I’m trying to stay consistent this season and then I want to finish

hard.”

Bjelland’s goals might just lead her to a CIF Division III

individual title. Mitchell, who is in his first year as coach of the

Mustangs, has added intense training methods to Bjelland’s work load

and the Mesa junior continues to respond with success. Stay tuned.