Florida sprinter Joseph Fahnbulleh, a redshirt freshman from Hopkins, won the 200-meter dash in 19.91 seconds on Friday in the NCAA track and field meet in Eugene, Ore.
His time was the 10th-fastest in collegiate history. It also ranks second in Gators program history and is the sixth-fastest time in the world this year.
Fahnbulleh was at best third in Lane 6 into the stretch but passed runners on his immediate right and left. Terrance Laird of LSU was a close second (19.94).
Fahnbulleh won the 200 twice in the Class 2A state meet competing for Hopkins High Schol in 2018 and 2019 and holds the state record in that event.
He was second in the 200 in the SEC indoor meet this year.
About 45 minutes before his 200 race, Fahnbulleh finished seventh in the 100 (10.26). Laird took first (10.05).
U steeplechaser second
Gophers redshirts senior Alec Basten finished second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the NCAA meet.
His time of 8 minutes, 29.03 seconds qualified him for the upcoming U.S. Olympic trials and was the second best in program history.
Kigen Chemadi of Middle Tennessee State won the race in 8:28.20.
Basten, of Green Bay, Wis., was the Big Ten champion in the steeplechase (8:33.79) in late May. His runner-up finish is the best national finish for the Gophers since Obsa Ali won the steeplechase in 2018.
The Gophers women's 4x400 relay finished 12th (3:36.20) on Thursday in the event semifinals and didn't advance.
Relay members were Janielle Josephs, Val Larson, Jayla Campbell and Abigail Schaaffe.
U hires soccer coach
Former three-year captain Erin Chastain was named the Gophers women's soccer coach on Friday, University of Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle announced. The university and Chastain agreed to a five-year contract, pending the completion of a background check.
Chastain was the head coach at DePaul the past 14 years and before that was an assistant coach at Santa Clara and Northwestern.
The Plymouth native is the sister-in-law of Brandi Chastain, one of USA Soccer's all-time greats who led the United States to the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Chastain, whose maiden name was Hussey, is the fifth head coach in program history. She played for the Gophers from 1993-96. At DePaul, her record was 78-44-26 her last eight seasons.
"I could not be more excited," Chastain said. "… This program and the entire state of Minnesota mean so much to me, so this really is a dream opportunity for me and my family.
"I can't wait to meet the team and look forward to getting to work."
Texas RB commits to U
Zach Evans, a three-star running back from Rockwall-Heath High School in Rockwall, Texas, announced via Twitter that he has committed to the Gophers football program during his official visit to campus.
Evans, 5-9 and 200 pounds, is the 46th-rated running back nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings of major recruiting services. Evans has scholarship offers from 15 FBS programs, including Arizona State, Iowa, Houston, Kansas, Nevada, Notre Dame and Texas. He received an offer from the Gophers on May 11.
Evans rushed 199 times for 1,220 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught eight passes for 84 yards a junior in 2020, helping the Hawks compile an 11-3 record and advance to the final eight in the Texas Class 6A playoffs.
Evans is the seventh player from the Class of 2022 to verbally commit to the Gophers.
Randy Johnson
U volleyball schedule
The Gophers volleyball program announced its 28-match fall schedule, which begins with eight nonconference matches. Minnesota will open with five opponents ranked in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association poll.
The Gophers will play Baylor and then TCU the second day as a part of the new Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge on Aug. 27-28 at Wisconsin. Their home opener will be against national runner-up Texas on Sept. 1. The Gophers will open Big Ten play at home against Michigan and Maryland on Sept. 24 and Sept. 26, respectively.
Robertson to USHL
Bill Robertson, the WCHA men's commissioner the past seven seasons, is the new president and commissioner of the United States Hockey League, the league announced. The USHL Board of Governors approved his hiring Thursday. He replaces Tom Garrity, who had led the USHL since November 2017.
Etc.
• Minnesota United signed midfielder Hassani Dotson to a new three-year contract, plus a one-year club option starting in 2022, the team said.
• The North Dakota men's hockey team announced the signing of five transfers: Bemidji State goalie Zach Driscoll (Apple Valley); forwards Connor Ford of Bowling Green and Ashton Calder of Lake Superior State, and defensemen Chris Jandric of Alaska and Brady Ferner of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
• Senior forward Zach Susee of Shakopee High School was named the 2020-21 Gatorade Minnesota Boys Soccer Player of the Year. He scored 23 goals and had 11 assists. to lead the Sabers to an 8-2-3 record.
• Fourteen members of the Gophers rowing program were named national scholar-athletes by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association, meaning each had at least 3.5 cumulative grade-point average.
