Lynn Bjorklund is an American long-distance

Long-distance track event

Long-distance track event races require runners to balance their energy. These types of races are predominantly aerobic in nature and at the highest level, exceptional levels of aerobic endurance is required more than anything else...

 runner originally from Los Alamos, New Mexico

Los Alamos, New Mexico

Los Alamos is a townsite and census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, built upon four mesas of the Pajarito Plateau and the adjoining White Rock Canyon. The population of the CDP was 12,019 at the 2010 Census. The townsite or "the hill" is one part of town while...

. She holds the U.S. high school record in the 3000 metres

3000 metres

The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...

, set in 1975, and female course records for the Pikes Peak Marathon

Pikes Peak Marathon

The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon is a racing event that begins at the base of Pikes Peak, in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and climbs over 7,700 feet to the top of the 14,115 foot peak...

, set in 1981. As of 2010 she is employed as a park ranger

Park ranger

A park ranger or forest ranger is a person entrusted with protecting and preserving parklands – national, state, provincial, or local parks. Different countries use different names for the position. Ranger is the favored term in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Within the United...

.

Bjorklund rapidly gained national prominence after she won the girls' division of the National Amateur Athletic Union

Amateur Athletic Union

The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations 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.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...

 (AAU) Cross Country Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...

. She won consecutive titles at the USA Cross Country Championships

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 well as acting as the selection race for the IAAF...

 in 1974 and 1975. She came in seventh place at the World Cross Country Championships

1976 IAAF World Cross Country Championships

The 4th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on February 28, 1976 in Chepstow, Wales.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :*...

 in 1976.

On October 8, 1997, Bjorklund was camping with her brother in the Pecos Wilderness

Pecos Wilderness

The Pecos Wilderness is a protected wilderness area within the Santa Fe National Forest and Carson National Forest. The Pecos Wilderness is in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of north central New Mexico, easily accessible from Santa Fe, the state capital. Covering an area of , it is the second...

 near Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...

when the two witnessed a plane crash. The pilot and his passenger were burned and injured. Bjorklund covered 18 miles (29 km) 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.