Lindsay back in throwing form at UW

LARAMIE, Wyo. — Once a thrower, always a thrower. That’s especially the case for University of Wyoming freshman and Lovell native Quinn Lindsay, who is throwing for the University of Wyoming track and field team after two years away from the sport. In those two years, he was putting the work in for something he sees as even more important: his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In high school, Lindsay was throwing a 12-pound shot and was setting himself for a successful college athletics career at UW. He was awarded a scholarship and was throwing the best he ever had. But duty called, and Lindsay answered. He comes from a family of dedicated members of the church, and as Lindsay said, a mission is the best two years for — not of — your life.

“I was pretty hesitant at first just because of the sports aspect,” Lindsay said. “They talk about, you know, if you go away and you don’t train for two years, if you come back — what if? What if I’m not the same? What if it just doesn’t work anymore?”

But he wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything in the world. His two years in Buenos Aires, Argentina, sharing the gospel and doing right by the LDS Church, was an experience he’ll take with him forever.

“It changes your perspective of, you know, from thinking ‘I guess the world owes me something’ to ‘Oh, man, I owe a lot to a lot of people,’” Lindsay said.

Despite the two-year gap, it’s almost like he never left. He credited the University of Wyoming Athletics Department and his coach for allowing him to retain his scholarship upon returning. He’s getting the true freshman experience, gen-eds and all.

Lindsay’s hard work has been paying off on the competition trail, as well. On January 25, Lindsay threw a personal best of 51-3½  in Bozeman, Montana. Just a week later, he got his first-ever podium finish and new best with a monster throw of 54-4¾ while competing in Boulder, Colorado, on February 1. A personal goal of 60 feet might not be too far-fetched, after all.

“In practice I throw more, so I know there’s more in the tank,” Lindsay said. “I think my goal is by the end of this first season — it’s a personal goal so it’s kind of high — I’m really hoping to throw 60.”

Now he’s preparing to make a splash this outdoor track and field season, but getting back into the groove of it hasn’t been easy.

“At first it was really rough. With lifting, I just wasn’t getting what I’d want to get. And in practice, I guess, all the bad from before and not the good from before was coming out —the bad habits,” Lindsay said. “But over time, it’s been going really well, and I feel like there’s been a lot of progress that’s happened over time. I consider it a blessing.”

That’s not to mention that college shots are a whole four pounds heavier, and the competitions come much more frequently. Regardless, Lindsay is back in the game and throwing better than ever. He reported that he is lifting more than ever before and is throwing even further, as well.

UW throwing assistant coach Paul Barrett, who has coached two Lindsays now in his 23 years with the program, said he can see the progress, as well. One of the first athletes Barrett ever coached on the collegiate level is Lindsay’s father, Chad Lindsay, who was also a thrower.

“It’s a little crazy. They’ve got very similar technical issues. I give him crap — both of them — it’s the same personal issues as his dad,” Barrett said. “It’s uncanny how similar they are. Both are very good athletes, and he’s doing a very good job.”

Lindsay’s father has also always been a source of inspiration for Quinn to push even harder. He said it was his father who gave made him feel like he could retain his competitive edge after two years away.

“I tell everyone I started throwing as soon as I could pick up a shot. With high school records, I was always thinking, ‘Those are my dad’s marks. I’ve got to get them.’ And now, being here, I feel the same,” Lindsay said.

And he didn’t do too bad. Lindsay currently holds the Lovell High School records for shot put in indoor track and in discus for outdoor track.

At the University of Wyoming, Chad’s record for throwing the shot is 59-5 in 1992.

Lindsay said he is growing stronger and stronger every day in preparation for the upcoming outdoor track and field season. It hasn’t been a walk in the park, though. Even throwing at the level that he is, he said meets can be stressful and emotionally demanding. But he’s got an ace up his sleeve that he’ll always be able to pull out at a competition.

“Ultimately, it’s all up to Him and what He has planned for our lives. The best we can do is strive for that and do our best,” Lindsay said. “That’s really where the reward lies. It’s the work and effort we put into it.”