Carissa Lindsay signs to throw at the University of Providence

Lovell High School senior Carissa Lindsay will take her track and field career to the next level as she has signed a letter of intent to compete for the University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana.
Lindsay, the daughter of Chad and Lindsay Lindsay, is ranked third in Class 3A in the shot put heading into the 2024 indoor season with a personal-record throw of 34-11¼ last season. She also plans to throw the 20-pound weight in at least one meet this season. She placed fourth in the shot put at the 2023 state indoor meet.
During the 2023 outdoor season, Lindsay threw a personal record 36 feet, a throw that broke the school record at the time, later surpassed by teammate JeaNayha Gruell. She also threw a personal record 111-7 at the state track meet in Casper to place eighth in Class 3A. She also placed eighth in the shot put.
“She’s probably the hardest worker in the room anywhere she’s at,” Lovell throwing coach AJ Montanez said following a signing ceremony Monday evening at the LHS Johnny Winterholler Gym classroom. “Her attention to detail has set her apart and will continue to.”
“She’s unique because she wasn’t on this trajectory early in her high school career,” Lovell outdoor head track coach Joshua Sanders said. “She was an 800-meter runner as a freshman and made the switch later. It speaks to the fact that you never know how your talent will develop.”
Lindsay is the latest in a long line of track and field athletes at LHS that have gone on to compete in college, including Lindsay’s older brother CJ, who is running at Rocky Mountain College in Billings.
“I think it says more about the type of kids we get,” Sanders said when asked about the success of his program. “With a little organization and direction, you’ll get kids who will excel. AJ is an excellent motivator and technician of the sport.”
Montanez, in turn, praised Sanders for bringing a serious approach to competition, noting, “Our program does a good job of making it a priority.”
Lindsay said she is looking forward to competing for the Providence Argos, noting that she also considered Montana Tech in Butte, the University of Mary in North Dakota and the University of Wyoming. Providence competes at the NAIA level.
“I loved the atmosphere. They were very welcoming. The track program is very personalized and fit me well,” she said. “They have a really nice nursing program (her intended major) and are going to build a new facility in a couple of years. It’s a great fit for me.”
Lindsay plans to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, then continue to become a nurse practitioner, hoping to practice family medicine.”
Lindsay made a connection with the Providence coaching staff while attending the 307 Throws Camp in Buffalo last summer, during which she met Providence throwing coach Alan Cress. Cress has been coaching at Providence since 2012 and said he has known Carissa’s father, Chad, for many years as both have competed at master’s meets.
Cress said Lindsay has great potential as an athlete who only started to focus on throwing two years ago.
“Her upside potential is still untapped,” he said. “She’ll continue down the path and will make huge leaps. She just needs more time in the sport. She has all of the physical tools. On the mental side she is a great student. Students like her learn really well when you teach them.
“She will catch up to others that she is behind right now this year and in college.”