On the night of October 22, Lauren McCluskey, a standout track and field student-athlete at the U, was shot and killed in the parking lot of her on-campus apartment. McCluskey, a senior communication major, earned All-Pac12 Honorable Mention accolades and ranks 10th all-time at Utah in the pentathlon. By all accounts, she was a bright and kind young woman with a positive future. She was set to graduate in May. She was 21.
McCluskey’s friends, family, teammates and leaders at the University of Utah reacted to the news on social media this morning:
Words cannot express our sadness. pic.twitter.com/ZZN85xDio3
— Jill McCluskey (@jjmccluskey) October 23, 2018
We are absolutely devastated about the loss of one of our own. Lauren McCluskey, we will miss you more than anyone could ever imagine. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family through this difficult time. #utefamily pic.twitter.com/Ts6KSB2kUM
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) October 23, 2018
It is with great sadness that I issue this statement about the death of one of our students last night: https://t.co/FhKFI7PTIZ
— Ruth V. Watkins (@RuthVWatkins) October 23, 2018
Official statement from @Utah_trackfield Head Coach Kyle Kepler on the tragic passing of student-athlete Lauren McCluskey: pic.twitter.com/Tcauoqeo38
— ESPN 700 (@ESPN700) October 23, 2018
As we come together as a community to mourn Lauren McCluskey’s passing, we invite you to share your memories of her or leave your condolences for family, friends, students and all those grieving this loss here: https://t.co/v15yBvH24M pic.twitter.com/H8Z9GaTEQi
— University of Utah (@UUtah) October 23, 2018
Statement from the Pac-12 on the tragic loss of Utah’s Lauren McCluskey: pic.twitter.com/Y060avf48m
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) October 23, 2018
Our thoughts and prayers are with Lauren’s family and friends. pic.twitter.com/H5q3EKqYUo
— Mark Harlan (@MarkHarlan_AD) October 23, 2018
A memorial fund has been established at https://giving.utah.edu/lauren-mccluskey/ to honor the memory of Lauren McCluskey. Lauren’s family has suggested funds collected here support future scholarships for student-athletes in track and field.
