A legacy of excellence 

The Lauren McCluskey track at the University of Idaho

(Sponsored) Thanks to a generous gift in memory of a couple’s daughter, the University of Idaho resurfaced the indoor track at the Kibbie Dome, its iconic athletics facility. The university chose the Super X track by Mondo for the new Lauren McCluskey Track.

A groundbreaking facility

Today, the Kibbie Dome serves as a training and competition facility for many of the university’s 16 varsity athletic teams, including football, basketball, track and field and tennis. Flooring for track and field and indoor tennis both lie beneath the venue’s football field, which is rolled up and stored at the end of each season. With a seating capacity of over 16,000, the venue can be a loud and intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams. 

State-of-the-art upgrade

For a 2022 renovation, the university chose to install Super X surface by Mondo. The installation included a 300-meter track and, on the track’s infield area, four competition tennis courts that serve as the home of the university’s tennis team.

With 8,000 seats on the south side of the arena, the Kibbie Dome now has one of the largest seating capacities of any NCAA tennis facility.

The track was installed by Wall 2 Wall Commercial Flooring, which offers a complete range of floor products through five locations in Idaho and Utah, as well as a W2W Sport Flooring location in California. 

A meaningful name

In 2022, Matt and Jill McCluskey from nearby Pullman, Washington, donated $1 million to the university, designating the funds for upgrading the dome’s indoor track. The generous gift was made in memory of the couple’s daughter, Lauren, who grew up just eight miles from the campus and had often trained at the facility.

As a scholastic athlete, Lauren was a state champion in the high jump, and she set her high school’s record in the 100-meter hurdles. But in 2018, when she was attending the University of Utah, Lauren was murdered by a man she had briefly dated. Her family received funds from a financial settlement related to her death, and her parents’ gift to the University of Idaho is in line with their goal to support initiatives related to amateur athletics, safety on college campuses and animal welfare. 

In recognition of the gift, the University of Idaho track has been named the Lauren McCluskey Track. 

“We hope that Lauren’s light will shine through the current and future athletes who train and compete on what was her home track,” the McCluskey family said. “With this resurfaced track, Lauren will always have a presence in the Kibbie Dome.”

A large and lasting tribute

The new surface bears the university’s insignia and Lauren’s name, forming the largest logo ever integrated into a track and field system.

“Lauren’s legacy of kindness, hard work and competitive spirit will now be permanently etched in the floor of the Kibbie Dome and will impact student-athletes for generations,” said Terry Gawlik, the university’s athletic director.

A world-class surface

The world’s first prefabricated vulcanized rubber track, Mondo’s Super X track surface is recognized as one of the fastest, most durable and environmentally safest tracks available. Known for its shock absorption and optimal energy return, Super X guarantees comfort, safety and durability. 

“We looked at the best track companies in the world, and we felt that Mondo would hold up the best with our multiuse facility because of its quality, durability and consistency,” said Tim Cawley, Director of Track and Field & Cross Country, University of Idaho.

Respecting the environment — and athletes’ health
In line with Mondo’s quest for environmental sustainability, Super X tracks are made using up to 37% recycled post-consumer and post-industrial materials, and up to 6% rapidly renewable materials. The Super X indoor track is certified GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Gold, due to its low emissions of volatile organic compounds. 

To learn more about Mondo’s track surfaces, visit: www.mondoworldwide.com 

You Might Also Like

Built to perform

Balancing Cutoff, Playability, and Innovation in Sports Lighting 

Let your facility bring the game to life