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Pullman HS grad & Utah multi-event specialist Lauren McCluskey shot & killed on university campus...

The national track and field community was shaken Tuesday morning with the news from the University of Utah that Pullman native and Ute multi-event specialist Lauren McCluskey (left/photo by Howard Lao) was shot and killed late Monday night on the university campus in Salt Lake City.

According to the Salt Lake Deseret News, McCluskey was shot by 37-year old Melvin Rowland.  Police reported that there was a previous relationship between Rowland and McCluskey, but that she broke off the relationship when she found out that he lied to her about his name, age, and criminal history.

McCluskey, who was a senior at the University of Utah, was scheduled to graduate spring 2019 with a degree in communications.

At Utah, she scored 3181 points in the pentathlon at the 2017 MPSF indoor championships at the Dempsey Indoor on the University of Washington campus, where she was 16th. In the spring of 2016, she scored her collegiate personal best of 4268 in the heptathlon in winning the Aztec Invitational in San Diego.

McCluskey competed in five of the seven events at the 2016 Pac-12 heptathlon championships at Husky Track.

During her career at Pullman High School, she won the 2012 Washington state 2A title in the high jump, and was second in the finals of the 100 hurdles. As a senior in 2015, she was second in the 100 hurdles and fifth in the high jump at the Washington 2A championships, and helped the school to a seventh place finish in the 4 x 400 relay.

She also competed for the Pullman-based Comets Track Club, where she competed in numerous USATF Youth and Junior Olympics meets, finishing second in the heptathlon in the 2012 USATF Youth Outdoor Championships.

Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan released a statement:

“Last night, the University of Utah lost one of our own. Senior track standout Lauren McCluskey was tragically killed in a senseless act. This news has shaken not only myself but our entire University of Utah athletics family to its core. We have university counselors and psychologists on standby to support Lauren’s teammates, coaches and friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and all of those dear to her.”

Utah track & field coach Kyle Kepler said, “Everyone associated with our program is devastated by the loss of Lauren. There are no words to express the emotions and grief we are experiencing right now. Lauren was a wonderful person, an excellent student and a dedicated member of our track and field team. She showed a relentless drive to improve every day over the last three and a half years and was always kind and supportive of her teammates. Those are just some of the reasons why her loss has hit us so hard.”

The school cancelled classes Tuesday, and planned a vigil on its campus Wednesday evening.

On Twitter, Washington State University economics professor Jill McCluskey released a statement about her daughter:




NOTE:  The University of Utah contributed to this report.  The Deseret News, KCPQ FOX 13, and the Spokane Spokesman-Review provided additional information.
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