Jan. 17, 2002

USC sprinter Angela Williams and former Trojan pitcher Mark Prior are among 14 finalists for the 72nd annual AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, the Amateur Athletic Union announced today.

Williams, winner of an unprecedented three NCAA 100 meter titles, and Prior, last year's College Baseball's Player of the Year, have a chance to join diver Sammy Lee (1953), shot putter Parry O'Brien (1959) and swimmer John Naber (1977) as the only Trojans to have won the prestigious award, considered the "Oscar" of sports awards.

Narrowed from a field of 30 nominees, the first-round finalists will be reduced to five athletes and their names will be released in mid-March. The National winner will formally be recognized in early April.