CLOSE-UP : Sutton’s Run for Glory--and Pizza

Melissa Sutton is the teen-ager in every parent’s dream.

The 16-year-old at Newbury Park High carries a 4.0 grade-point average, studies diligently, doesn’t stay out late, doesn’t eat junk food and doesn’t rebel against her parents.

Each day after school, she laces up her running shoes, stretches her 5-7 frame and sets out to run eight or nine miles.

“I like to just think when I run,” Sutton said, “about my family, about races I’ve run and about how lucky I am to have this talent.”

Today, her thoughts are on a specific race--the Kinney Cross-Country National Championship.

The junior ran last Saturday against hundreds from 13 western states in the Kinney Western Regional Cross-Country race.

Sutton took second place, completing the 5,000-meter course in 17:28. She finished 18 seconds behind the first-place runner from San Jose.

Her performance earned her a spot at Balboa Park in San Diego alongside 31 of the nation’s best high school runners in the championship race at 10 this morning.

Sutton keeps a tight schedule when planning her athletic activities each year.

Besides being on the cross-country and track teams for two years at Newbury Park, Sutton also starred on the varsity girls soccer team. But this year, she has decided to play basketball instead of soccer.

“She doesn’t even know how to play basketball,” Melissa’s mother, Ellie, said. “But if she wants to do it, she’ll learn. She didn’t know how to play soccer, either.”

In the summer and on weekends, Sutton plays tennis. Four years ago, Sutton was ranked one of the best 12-year-old tennis players in Southern California.

“I can’t stand just sitting around,” Sutton said. “You have to be productive with your time. I’m active so I can eat more pizza.”

Sutton loads up on carbohydrates, but hasn’t had a candy bar in two years.

“She’s so disciplined,” her mother said. “I’m probably the only mother in the world who says, ‘Don’t do your homework, give yourself a rest.’ ”