As the ISU cross country team starts its season, it is without runner Yonas Mebrahtu Gebretinsae.

Gebretinsae, a 19-year-old from the African country of Eritrea, was supposed to become a Cyclone this fall, and planned to run for the ISU cross country team.

Cross country coach Corey Ihmels, however, has not heard from Gebretinsae in about two months – or, as Ihmels put it, “too long.”

Ihmels said in order for Gebretinsae to come to the United States, he needed to travel from Eritrea to the U.S. embassy in Kenya to get a student visa. However, in order for him to go to Kenya he needed to first attain a waiver from Ethiopia that would allow him to pass through the country into Kenya.

“For whatever reason, he felt that going to Ethiopia was his best chance to get over here. In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the best choice,” Ihmels said.

Ethiopia is especially dangerous for people from Eritrea because the two countries have been fighting each other almost nonstop since 1962, when Ethiopia annexed Eritrea. Eritrea gained independence in 1993, but border disputes and other minor issues have kept the countries unfriendly.

Iowa State officials are hoping that, by sending out a press release, somebody in the area who knows something will see it and be able to help.

“We are hopeful that he is imprisoned or someplace along the way and [will] hopefully make his way back to Eritrea at some point,” Ihmels said.

Although Ihmels had never met Gebretinsae in person, he has spoken with him on the phone and says the young man left a very good impression on him.

“[Gebretinsae is a] tremendous young man – very polite – and a tremendous athlete. He is the type of athlete that we want representing Iowa State.

“He was in a situation where he was looking to better his life position and he felt that he could do that by coming to the United States; and he felt that getting an athletic scholarship was his chance to further his career and further his livelihood. He risked some things, probably too great, to do that. It just shows how lucky we are to live in the country we do where we can just choose a school and go to it without worrying.”

At this point, Ihmels is not worried about Gebretinsae making it here in time for the season.

“I just want to know that he is all right, and that if he is found, he is OK. We can always re-admit him in January,” Ihmels said.

Although the situation looks bad, Ihmels remains optimistic.

“This isn’t the end of the story, and hopefully there is a happy ending,” Ihmels said.