Lindsey Olson Anderson
Student Athlete Lindsey Anderson
2003-2007
Lindsey Olson Anderson was born in Payson, Utah a month premature with her twin sister Angela. She moved around during her early years because of her father’s job, before they settled in Morgan, Utah. Her youth was spent playing sports and other games with the neighborhood kids that were predominantly boys. Summers were spent working on her grandparent’s farm. She was taught from an early age to work hard and focus on the important things first.
While in high school Lindsey played on the basketball, soccer, and track and field teams. She lettered in each sport, and was a five time state champion in both track and cross country. She was recruited to attend Weber State University by Jim Blaisdell, head coach of the women’s track and field team. She credits coach Paul Pilkington with making her the athlete and coach she is today. During her student career she set four school records in indoor, outdoor, and cross country. She earned many awards and honors in the Big Sky Conference, NCAA, and at Weber State. She became the first NCAA athlete to place first in the steeplechase, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters at the same championship.
After graduating, Lindsey signed a three year contract with Nike and became a professional athlete. She competed at the World Track and Field Championships in Osaka, Japan and Berlin, Germany in 2007 and 2009. In 2008 she placed second at the Olympic trials and competed in the first women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase at the Beijing Summer Olympics. In 2020 she competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Atlanta, Georgia for the marathon.
While competing Lindsey was also a volunteer assistant coach at Weber State. From 2011-2014 she was an assistant coach. She also coached at California State University Bakersfield before accepting the head coach of cross country and track and field position at the College of Southern Idaho in 2017, where she has continued to excel. She restarted the program after a nineteen year hiatus, and has led both the men’s and women’s teams to place in the top six nationally. In 2021, the women’s cross country team won their first national championship in school history. Lindsey was also named the NJCAA Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Lindsey Anderson Press Release
Lindsey Anderson receiving the 2005 Big Sky Outstanding Track Athlete award
Lindsey Anderson participating in the Mt. Sac Relays meet, 2007
Lindsey Anderson competing in the 2008 Olympic Trials
Lindsey Anderson running in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics
Lindsey Anderson, College of Southern Idaho Head Coach of Cross Country and Track and Field, circa 2020
Exhibit in the Stewart Library