“We can all make a difference” was the message on Saturday, January 25th at the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open track meet in Moscow, Idaho. The event was hosted by University of Idaho Track and Field in Lauren’s memory on the Lauren McCluskey Track and Field at the Kibbie Dome. Lauren’s parents, Jill and Matt McCluskey were in attendance to share the work of the Lauren McCluskey Foundation and Lauren’s Promise. They spoke at the event to attendees sharing how by making Lauren’s Promise and pledging to listen and believe, we can all make a difference.
The Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open was the largest ever, being attended by over 600 student athletes across 16 schools including: the University of Montana, Eastern Washington University, Sacramento State University, Washington State University, the University of Idaho, Western Washington University, Montana Tech, Eastern Oregon University, Lewis-Clark State College, Linfield University, Corban University, Multnomah Campus of Jessup University, Spokane Community College, College of Southern Idaho, Umpqua Community College, and the College of Idaho. The meet not only celebrated Lauren’s legacy as a standout track athlete but also amplified our ongoing mission to combat relationship violence through education and advocacy. By weaving Lauren’s Promise into the fabric of collegiate athletics, the event underscored how collective action can turn personal tragedy into transformative change.
Lauren’s Promise:
Lauren’s Promise is a pledge that anyone – faculty, staff, students, parents, and community members – can take to indicate to others that they represent a safe place. Anyone who makes Lauren’s Promise pledges to listen to and believe individuals who are being threatened and or experiencing relationship violence and will help connect victims to support resources. By making Lauren’s Promise, individuals are helping to change campus cultures that respond poorly to dating violence and stalking throughout the nation.
You can make Lauren’s Promise and request stickers here.
Lauren McCluskey Track and Field:
The Lauren McCluskey Track, inside the Kibbie Dome, was dedicated in 2023. It was more than a resurface it was a re imagining of possibilities for the Idaho Track and Field program. The 300-meter Mondo surface makes the facility unique among on-campus facilities in the NCAA.
The track features a Mondotrack Super X surface. Mondo produced the track surface for the last six Summer Olympic games and over 290 world records have been set on Mondo products. The track was installed by Idaho-based Wall 2 Wall Commercial Flooring.
Included in the infield for the 300-meter track large University of Idaho branding and lettering that include Lauren’s name was integrated into the track design. It is the largest logo ever integrated into a track and field system.
The track was dedicated to the memory of Lauren McCluskey, a former University of Utah track and field athlete who was murdered in 2018. Lauren grew up in Pullman, Washington, and trained extensively at the Kibbie Dome track during the winter years.
