On Sunday (6/3/2018) afternoon The Middle Tennessee Athletic Department held a memorial service for Geoffrey Cheruiyot in the Kennon Sports Hall of Fame Building. The former MTSU runner was killed early Thursday (5/31/2018) morning when hit by a charter bus in Newport, TN after being involved in a crash just minutes before.

According to the Newport Plain Talk newspaper, Cheruiyot was driving a Chevrolet Impala westbound on I-40 when he struck a concrete barrier and then rolled over in the median near mile marker 433.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol's accident report notes that Cheruiyot allegedly fled the scene on foot prior to the officers' arrival. The former MTSU track and field athlete was about a mile away from the original crash scene when he was struck and killed by a charter bus.

The 23-year old just graduated with a bachelor's degree last month from Middle Tennessee State University.

Head Coach Dean Hayes said, "Geoffrey was a great leader in his community at home in Kenya as well as in the Middle Tennessee athletic program. He was a very lovable, fun-loving, dedicated and likeable guy among the team. He was a hard worker on and off the field which showed in his two NCAA appearances in the men's steeplechase event".

Cheruiyot joined the Blue Raider track and field family in 2014 participating on both the cross country and track and field teams during his freshman season. He was a four-year athlete at Middle Tennessee who earned eight top finishes during his final season of eligibility.

In 2016, Cheruiyot was named to the 2016 NCAA South All-Region Team and most recently competed at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field East Regionals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The Eldoret, Kenya native holds the Middle Tennessee school record in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Hayes concluded, "Geoffrey is someone that you will miss because of his personality and dedication. He will always be remembered in our program".