SportsLine wire reports
March 11, 1999

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowa men's track and field star Bashir Yamini will redshirt the upcoming outdoor season to concentrate on spring football.

Yamini recently made the decision after debating the issue during the recently completed indoor season.

"It gives me a chance to totally focus on spring ball," Yamini said Wednesday night. "And I can keep my focus on my teammates, instead of having to run back and forth."

Yamini was one of the Hawkeyes' top wide receivers last season, and is expected to have a similar role in 1999. He won the NCAA indoor long jump title in 1998, but slipped to 13th this year. He also runs sprint events.

Next spring, when Yamini returns to the track and field team, he will be a fifth-year senior.

"It gives me a chance to train at Iowa and hopefully go to the (2000) Olympics (in Sydney, Australia)," he said.