Running with the pack

Having made the move from California to Norway, Ana Gjesdal could be considered an expert at dealing with change.

From a sports standpoint, that might have helped bring out the best in her.

Gjesdal was uprooted with her family to Algard, Norway, where she became a brown belt in karate. The thought of continuing a potential career in the martial arts wasn’t in the works for Gjesdal when she returned to California nearly seven years later.

Gjesdal sought another participation sport. She was shocked to learn that long-distance running would become her main concentration.

Running up dusty hills and on tracks never entered Gjesdal’s mind. In a short period of time, she transformed into a standout runner at Crescenta Valley High and Glendale Community College and is now faring well at the University of Michigan.

“I didn’t have much coordination to play sports, let alone run,” said Gjesdal, who will return to the Southland when she competes in the 3,000-meter race at the University of California at Irvine Invitational on Friday and Saturday. “I didn’t run in Norway because karate was my thing.

“When I started at Crescenta Valley, a few people I met asked me if I do sports. They suggested that I run. I figured I’d give it a try and it’s a decision I’m glad I made, because it’s got me to where I am today.”

Gjesdal had to quickly adjust to the popular college town of Ann Arbor, Mich., which is known nationally for attracting more than 100,000 to the university’s football games. But she made the necessary adjustments in order to handle the rigors of competing at the Division I level.

Gjesdal, who graduated from Crescenta Valley in 2001, has gone on to record some personal-best marks to keep Michigan among the powerhouses in the nation and in the Big Ten Conference.

Gjesdal’s marks continue to improve during her senior year.

The 23-year-old set a personal-best mark of 9 minutes 37.54 seconds to capture the 3,000 meters at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., on Feb. 10-11. She claimed second in the 3,000 in 9:48.65 to help the Wolverines win their ninth consecutive Michigan Intercollegiate championship at Ypsilanti, Mich., on Jan. 28.

“The competition we face is so much better,” said Gjesdal, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology last year and is now working on her master’s degree in sports management. “That means I’m always looking to improve.”

Gjesdal has worked closely with Michigan associate coach Mike McGuire throughout her tenure on the university’s cross-country and track and field teams. McGuire, who piloted Michigan to its first NCAA championship in track and field in 1998, said the program found a perfect match with Gjesdal after she arrived from Glendale College.

“We knew she’d be determined,” said McGuire, who led Michigan to its third straight conference outdoor track and field championship in 2004.

“I give her the most credit because she’s always been passionate about what she does and that goes a long way toward development at this level.

“She always trained well. She struggled a bit during her first year [at Michigan], but she started to have success that led to a race breakthrough a little later.”

Before arriving at Michigan, Gjesdal received plenty of direction from Crescenta Valley Coach Mark Evans and Glendale College Coach Eddie Lopez. Gjesdal, who was named to the Pacific League’s first team at Crescenta Valley, went on to star for one season at Glendale College.

She could have gone from Crescenta Valley to Michigan, but Gjesdal said spending a season at Glendale College gave her valuable time to prepare for the Division I level. She won the 3,000 steeplechase at the Southern California Championships, the 1,500 at the Western State Championships and placed second in the steeplechase at the California Junior College state meet (11:10).

Gjesdal never regretted going to Glendale College.

“I didn’t plan to run after high school,” said Gjesdal, who earned a spot on the Junior College All-American Cross-Country first team in 2001. “I went to GCC out of shape because I wasn’t running much.

“Eddie got me passionate about running and I had never loved running until I got to GCC.

“He encouraged me and he still watches our meets when we come to California.”

Once Gjesdal arrived at Glendale College, Lopez helped her in her quest to become a bona fide collegiate runner.

“I challenged her, but I knew she’d be up for the challenge,” said Lopez, who was a former cross-country and track and field star at Glendale College. “She started training and put in a lot of mileage, and that got her better.

“At the same time, it also motivated me that much more to coach her. She still trains with us during the summer.”

There are still several months left in the track and field season before Gjesdal plans to turn her attention to competing in marathons across the country.

It’s another example of how Gjesdal can handle change on the fly.