4 Ethiopian athletes missing since Sat morning

[Track Blazer]

As noted by the Oregonian 4 team members went missing Sat am. 1 male and 3 female athletes. Interesting is the description that 1 or 2 are in their 20's! Perhaps they are seeking asylum and defected to Nike or adidas HQ in Portland. New US blood in the distances ala Meb and Lagat?

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/i...incart_m-rpt-1

[aaronk]

I saw that story too....via twitter.
Then MileSplit tweeted that maybe 1 or more of the missing was an Ethiopian 1500 woman.
They speculated how this might affect the (then) upcoming 1500 final!!

Pretty crass, IMHO!!
I even tweeted to them that I thought we should care more about their health, safety, and welfare....than about whether Efraimson & Cranny would be aided by their not being there (if that had been the case!!).

I hope they're okay!!

[fourjz]

As noted by the Oregonian 4 team members went missing Sat am. 1 male and 3 female athletes. Interesting is the description that 1 or 2 are in their 20's! Perhaps they are seeking asylum and defected to Nike or adidas HQ in Portland. New US blood in the distances ala Meb and Lagat?

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/i...incart_m-rpt-1

So what is the latest from this situation ? Anyone know ?

[aaronk]

So what is the latest from this situation ? Anyone know ?

Three of the 4 have been found in Beaverton.
I think the other is known to be safe, but hasn't surfaced yet.
I think they're staying with an Ethiopian family in Beaverton.

The police have said it's out of their hands now----their only mission was to find them.
They've turned the case (of the ones found) to other authorities.

Just my opinion, but sounds to me like they're seeking asylum.

[Alan Shank]

As noted by the Oregonian 4 team members went missing Sat am. 1 male and 3 female athletes. Interesting is the description that 1 or 2 are in their 20's!

The article linked to said: "The missing athletes include a 17-year-old boy and three women believed to be between ages 18 to 20."

That is not the same as "in their 20's". A later article said they were 17, and three 18-year-olds.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA

[Tuariki]

Just my opinion, but sounds to me like they're seeking asylum.

They will probably be wearing the stars and stripes in 2020 Olympics

[AS]

One of the by-products of hosting a championship... Australia picked up a number of athletes in various sports from hosting WJ in 1996, OG in 2000 and Comm Games in 2006.

[tandfman]

Three of the 4 have been found in Beaverton.

The fourth has turned up in the State of Washington. Link on front page (scroll down).

[Master Po]

Good to know these 4 are OK, at least as of now, though their situation I presume will remain in limbo for a while. I have learnt in this case that Ethiopians comprise one of the leading asylum-seeking groups in the USA. Perhaps I should have known that, but I didn't
until now.

As for the athletes, they and their athletics marks are:

Amanuel Abebe (Nov 1996) sprinter 10.99, 22.19
Dureti Edao (Apr 1996) middle distance 2:03.25, 4:15.91. Her 800m mark was from WYC last year, where she earned silver.
Zeytuna Mohammed ((Feb 1996) middle distance 2:01.6hA
Meaza Kebede (Apr 1996) 400m hurdles 1:00.00

Their marks are not of great importance to me relative to their safety and a hoped-for positive outcome of this case, but as this case developed in the athletics context, I was curious about their events and marks so looked them up & included them here. I wish them well.

[NormZylstra]

One of the by-products of hosting a championship... Australia picked up a number of athletes in various sports from hosting WJ in 1996, OG in 2000 and Comm Games in 2006.

Do you recall who?

[Tuariki]

I think the nose busting, bronze medalling ex Cameroonian weightlifter was one of them from 2006