Current status of........?

[aaronk]

I normally ask this in my blog----and still will----but I'm more likely to get responses from here!
The following athletes haven't been heard from in awhile (months), and are either coming back from an injury or illness, or might have retired without notice, or some other reason causing them to be MIA.

Demi Payne
Injured last year, but no word of a scheduled comeback.
No mention of being entered in any meet, large or small.

Mary Cain & Alexa Efraimson
Once the 2 brightest HS distance runners, but both have been silent the past several weeks or months.
Cain's last website message (October) said she'd run some XC races, which she did.
Normally, she'd "rust bust" in Seattle.
But now living in NY, and free of NOP, she might begin her year at the Armory or Ocean Breeze, or in one of the Boston venues.
However, no known meets scheduled!
Efraimson was last seen in a photo (maybe recent) with her boyfriend, Matt Maton.
But no word of her athletic intent for 2017!

Is Lisa Uhl officially retired?
Is she coaching full time in Iowa somewhere?

I ALWAYS wonder what happened to Cayla Hatton!
She left Stanford soon after arriving, and no word of her since!
It's been years!!

Where is Lawi Lalang?
Is he becoming an American citizen?
Living here----or in Kenya?
Ran 13:00 for 5K 2-3 years ago, as well as some fast miles in college.
But haven't heard anything from him of late!

Desiree Freier?
Still listed on Arkansas's roster, but coming off a fairly poor year in 2016.
Her tweets don't mention PV'ing---just relationship angst stuff!!
Arkansas opens up next weekend, so might find out her status then!

Sister tandems of Wesley & Ryen Frazier and Hannah and Haley Meier.
The Fraziers have run hot and cold---off and on---literally!
Will they come back to their once-super talented selves?
The Meier's followed Wesley Frazier to Duke, and also ran hot and cold their first year there.
Since Frazier left , haven't seen much of them in the Duke results!
They're probably juniors or seniors this year!!

Finally, which country will the following represent in future WC's and OG's?
David Torrence (Peru or the US?)
Alexi Pappas (Greece or the US?)
Mondo Duplantis (Sweden or the US?)
Can they switch back and forth?

[aaronk]

Forgot about.....

Abbey D'Agostino
What's her current date of return?
Any?

I know both Gabe Grunewald and Bobby Colantonio have had recent bouts with cancer.
I've seen photos of Grunewald running, so she's coming back!
Haven't heard anything from Colantonio, but I assume he's taking treatments, etc.
Wish the best for both!!

[tandfman]

Finally, which country will the following represent in future WC's and OG's?
David Torrence (Peru or the US?)
Alexi Pappas (Greece or the US?)
Mondo Duplantis (Sweden or the US?)
Can they switch back and forth?

My guess would be that none of those three will switch back to the US. They can switch back and forth, but there are rules governing switching. Those rules include sit-out periods. See IAAF Rule 5. The restrictions of Rule 5 could be tightened in the future.

[dukehjsteve]

I bumped into the Meier sisters on the street in Charlevoix, MI in August, when they and their Dad stopped me, as they saw my " Duke Track " hat. They said they had left Duke as they did not like the new coach. I forget to where they said they were transferring... was it home state Michigan ?

[NotDutra5]

Where is Lawi Lalang?
Is he becoming an American citizen?
Living here----or in Kenya?
Ran 13:00 for 5K 2-3 years ago, as well as some fast miles in college.
But haven't heard anything from him of late!

Lawi joined the American Distance Project in October. I think he's still a citizen of Kenya. Competed in a Turkey Trot listed as Kenya.

[gh]

....

Desiree Freier?
Still listed on Arkansas's roster, but coming off a fairly poor year in 2016.
Her tweets don't mention PV'ing---just relationship angst stuff!!
Arkansas opens up next weekend, so might find out her status then!....

Arkansas press release this afternoon: << In addition, Arkansas will see the welcome return of Desiree Freier who was a two-time All-American in the event during her freshman year.>>

[aaronk]

Thanks to all above who offered answers!
Keep them coming!
And if you have anyone I didn't mention who has been MIA----please relate what you know!

[polevaultpower]

The best way to keep up with Demi Payne is to follow her Instagram. She hasn't posted much pole vaulting stuff, and it's all been super vague. Her mental injuries last year were greater than any physical injuries, and I haven't seen any strong indications she has turned the page. In years past she had lots of videos from practice and such.

[polevaultpower]

As far as country-switching, there's zero reasons for the three listed to switch back.

[Atticus]

As far as country-switching, there's zero reasons for the three listed to switch back.

Unless, of course, you believe all the athletes who say they are very proud to wear the uniform of and represent their native country . . .

[tandfman]

Unless, of course, you believe all the athletes who say they are very proud to wear the uniform of and represent their native country . . .

Native country doesn't work for Torrence. Wiki sez he was born in Japan.

[Atticus]

Native country doesn't work for Torrence. Wiki sez he was born in Japan.

Sure works for Barber and Duplantis.

[exdrake]

Didn't both Fraziers do very well for N.C. State at this year's ACC XC championships?

I checked-Wesley was 10th and Ryen 14th for Wolfpack.

[aaronk]

Didn't both Fraziers do very well for N.C. State at this year's ACC XC championships?

I checked-Wesley was 10th and Ryen 14th for Wolfpack.

Yes, but as I noted, they ran "hot and cold"!
Meaning, they had extremely poor races too!!
They've never gotten consistently good races while at NC State!

[aaronk]

One "mystery" solved----and another, NOT mentioned in my earlier posts, also solved!!

Alexa Efraimson is entered in Seattle's mile run this weekend!
While I HATE the fact her time--however fast--will NOT count for record or list purposes due to the Oversize Track---I AM happy she's returning to action!!

The as-yet-unmentioned "mystery" concerned Kayla Montgomery!
She is, of course, the gal who has Multiple Sclerosis, and who ran 17:16 in 2014's NBIN 5000, and who ran 35:49 in her first 10K for Lipscomb College in 2015!

But in the early fall of last year, she suffered a relapse of her MS!
All I'd seen were photos of her in her various speaking engagements (for MS Society).
No word on her being an active athlete again!

So I am THRILLED to announce she is entered in the mile at this weekend's Commodore Invite in Tennessee!!
(Although it's ALSO on an OT!! UGH!!)
Welcome back, Kayla!!