Cuban runner, coach apparently defect in Uruguay

[Bacchus39]

Cuban runner, coach apparently defect in Uruguay
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090211/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_uruguay_cuba;_ylt=Ajj_JvxN9hZqFofVzlWhtf.3IxIF

. AP MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Officials say a Cuban long-distance runner and track coach have apparently deserted in Uruguay.

The president of the Track Federation of Maldonado says Agelmis Rojas and Rafael Diaz arrived in January on a sports exchange program in the area east of Uruguay's capital.

Edgard Silveira said Wednesday the Cubans left behind a cell phone and "simply disappeared" a day before they were to return home.

Cuban track coach Adalberto Cuevas has lived in Maldonado for years and he says "the defection has been confirmed."

Rojas placed 47th in the 2004 Olympic marathon in Athens. Diaz is his coach.

Their whereabouts were unknown. The Cuban Embassy said nobody was available to comment.