photo by: Sara Marshall

On Tuesday, April 8th the ETU Track and Field team delayed their training due to the rainy weather conditions. Coach Donald Peterson rescheduled the meet for that evening at 6pm. While there is nothing unusual about these types of rescheduling on campus, this Tuesday appeared to be a very strange evening indeed.

As the team gathered, Peterson noticed a student clad in ETU uniform running at a brisk pace around the track. Peterson noted, “Something wasn’t quite right about him, he was wearing one of the old uniforms from about a decade ago. So, when he starts running toward us, I figure out that it’s Justin Pawlak.” Pawlak– who still holds the university record of a 9.8 second 100m–was reported missing in April of 1999 and had not been seen by friends or family since.

According to Peterson, “Pawlak ran by, and when I shouted at him the kid just kept going.” As Justin completed his loop, he ran from the field out onto the street and disappeared – literally.

Peterson reported the incident. Pinebox PD and campus security organized a search party and combed the campus and nearby thicket for evidence. After several hours the search was ended. Pawlak left no trace of his passing; footprints along what Peterson described as Pawlak’s path could not be found.

A committee made up of Peterson, former ETU alumni and ETU Athletics Director Bill Simms will meet tonight with parents and local officials to determine how best to continue Pawlak’s search.