Lindsey Anderson (born May 23, 1985 in Payson, Utah) is an American middle distance and steeplechase runner.[2] She is a two-time NCAA All-American, a four-time school record holder at Weber State University, and a six-time Big Sky Conference senior champion. She also set a personal best time of 9:30.75 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase by placing second at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, which guaranteed her a qualifying place for the Olympics.[3] University of Missouri women cross country head coach
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Lindsey Olson |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | 23 May 1985 Payson, Utah |
| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) |
| Weight | 52 kg (115 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event | Steeplechase |
| College team | Weber State Wildcats |
| Turned pro | 2007 |
| Coached by | Paul Pilkington[1] |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best | 3000 m steeplechase: 9:30.75 (2008) |
Morgan High School
editAnderson, a native of Morgan, Utah, started out her athletic career as a middle-distance runner, since she was in seventh grade. Anderson attended Morgan High School, where she had won five state track and cross-country titles, and held starting positions on both the girls' soccer and basketball teams. Coming out of high school, she was offered a full scholarship to study at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.[1]
Weber State University
editWhile attending the University, Anderson continued to develop into what she called "a pretty, good college runner" in her first two years, before she worked with 1994 Los Angeles marathon champion Paul Pilkington in 2005. Under her coach's direction, Anderson stood out to be an Olympic hopeful, and eventually reached the summit of her career with a runner-up finish in the steeplechase at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships, and a third-place finish at the U.S. Outdoor Championships. Additionally, she earned NCAA All-American honors twice, held four school records in middle-distance running, and won five Big Sky Conference championship titles under the senior division, and won team MVP for the season. Also during Anderson’s senior year of cross country, she was ranked number one in the Big Sky Conference but got sick with bronchitis and received a fourth-place finish in the 5K with a time of 18:09.3. .[1][4]
Professional and International Racing
editIn 2008, Anderson posted a career best time of 9:30.75 in the women's steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Finishing second overall in the event, she clinched a spot on the United States team for the Olympics.[3][5]
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Anderson competed in the first ever women's 3000 m steeplechase, along with her teammates Jennifer Barringer and Anna Willard. She ran in the first heat against sixteen other athletes, including Tunisia's Habiba Ghribi, and Russia's Gulnara Galkina-Samitova, both of whom were top medal contenders in this event. She finished the race in eighth place by five seconds ahead of Ethiopia's Mekdes Bekele, outside her personal best time of 9:36.81. Anderson, however, failed to advance into the final, as she placed twenty-fourth overall, and was ranked below four mandatory slots for the next round. Also, Anderson is usually the smallest competitor in the race, standing at only five foot four inches. However, she has an advantage in steeplechase because she was a jumper.4[6]
Lindsey Anderson placed 12th and finished in 2:36:51 – paced the first half of the 2018 Chicago Marathon in 1:18:16 to qualify for United States Olympic Trials in the 2020 Trials in Atlanta.[7]
Lindsey Anderson placed 6th and finished in 2:34:45 – paced the first half of the 2019 Los Angeles Marathon in 1:18:26 to qualify for United States Olympic Marathon Trials in the 2020 Trials in Atlanta.[8]
Personal life
editFormerly Lindsey Olson, she is married to Mark Anderson who is also a runner. 2 They had their first child, a girl in October 2011. They had their second child, a boy in January 2015. Also, Anderson is usually the smallest competitor in the race, standing at only five foot four inches. However, she has an advantage in steeplechase because she was a jumper. All throughout Lindsey’s running career she was rarely number one, and suffered from a “fear of failure”. She was only offered two scholarships for running, and both were from Utah[9]
Coaching career
editCoach Anderson coached at Weber State University from 2007[10] through 2014.[11] Coach Lindsey Anderson accepted an offer at California State University Bakersfield in July 2014[12]
"Marcia Mansur-Wentworth thinks she is going to be a great role model for our young women and young men and I am just thrilled that she wants to help us.” Anderson brings several years of coaching experience to Bakersfield after being an assistant coach for her alma mater, Weber State. She also competed for Oiselle, a women's running company that sponsors several elite female runners like Kara Goucher and Lauren Fleshman."
Coach Anderson led the College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles cross country and track and field men and women as head coach 2018 – 2022.[13] Anderson led CSI's women's team to the 2021 NJCAA Division I National Cross Country Championship --- The first in school history. During her five seasons at CSI, both the men's and women's cross country teams placed in the top 10 in the nation every season.[14]
Coach Anderson led the Missouri Tigers cross country and track and field men and women as head coach 2022 – 2023.[15]
Lindsey Anderson returns to Weber State as assistant coach in July 2023. She is a Big Sky Conference 25 Greatest Female Athletes of all time in 2014 and was inducted into the Weber State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. [16]
References
edit- ^ a b c Gustavson, Jennifer (July 31, 2008). "Running to Beijing". Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Lindsey Anderson". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ a b Dunaway, James (July 4, 2008). "Merritt upsets Wariner, Richards cruises as action resumes in Eugene – US Olympic Trials, Day 5". IAAF. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ "Lindsey Anderson Qualifies for Beijing Olympics". Weber State Sports. July 4, 2008. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ Kirkland, Tom (August 13, 2008). "Utah steeplechaser to debut in new Olympic event". KSL TV Utah. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ "Women's 3000m Steeplechase – Heat 1". NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on August 21, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ 2018 Chicago Marathon Results
- ^ 2018 Los Angeles Marathon Results
- ^ "CSU Bakersfield announcement in 2014". Archived from the original on April 7, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
- ^ Weber State 2011 Article
- ^ 2013 Coach Lindsey Anderson article
- ^ California State University Bakersfield 2014 article California State University Bakersfield
- ^ 2018 College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles coach Lindsey Anderson profile College of Southern Idaho
- ^ 2018 College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles coach Lindsey Anderson profile College of Southern Idaho
- ^ 2022 Missouri Tigers cross country and track and field men and women
- ^ The Olympian, All-American, Hall of Famer, National Coach of the Year, and former collegiate record holder has been named an assistant coach for the Weber State men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams. Weber State University
