As a freshman, in 1980, Kindelan finished runner-up at the NWAC Cross Country Championships and helped lead Bellevue College women's cross country team to its first NWAC Cross Country Championship as well as the first overall championship in women's sports at Bellevue College.

Building on her success the season before, in 1981 Kindelan was the first Bellevue College women's cross country individual champion, winning the championship race in 17 minutes, 53 seconds. Her winning time was the fastest in the NWAC for 30 years and remains the second fastest in NWAC history. At the '81 championships, she led her teammates to a 1-2-3 finish, securing the NWAC Cross Country Championship for the second year in a row. At the conclusion of the cross-country season, Bellevue College cross country team finished ranked #1 in the country, led by Kindelan.

Turning to track & field in 1981, Lisa was the NWAC champion in both 3K (10:20) and 5K (17:54) races. In 1982, she was runner up in both races to her Bellevue College teammate. Kindelan's efforts in Track & Field help secure championships in both 1981 and 1982 for the Bellevue College women's track & field teams.

She transferred to the University of Idaho where she was all conference in cross country and track & field in both her junior and senior seasons. From there she participated in three Olympic trials marathons, finishing 10^th, 19^th, and 29^th. Lisa is the only NWAC woman to compete in three Olympic Trials. In 1995, she ranked eighth in the U.S. Marathon with a time of 2:35.00. In 1996, Lisa finished ninth at the USA 5K championships. Kindelan was a member of the U.S. Track & Field team at the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle as she competed in the marathon and was the top American finishing fourth. Lisa finished in the top five in the USA Marathon Women's Championship three times.