Posted: March 8, 2005

Athletics: News & Notes, Volume 6, Number 17

Wariner named Sullivan Award finalist

After winning gold medals in the men's 400 meters and 4x400m relay at the 2005 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, former Baylor University star Jeremy Wariner has been named a finalist for the James E. Sullivan Award, presented annually to the nation's top amateur athlete since 1930.

Wariner won the men's 400m gold medal in Athens in 44.00 seconds, before running the third leg of the victorious U.S. men's 4x400m relay in 2:55.91, the fastest time in the world since 1998. In finishing the season ranked #1 in the world by Track & Field News, Wariner became the youngest man to earn that distinction since National Track & Field Hall of Famer Lee Evans (about 13 months younger than Wariner) did it in 1966.

Other finalists include Olympic gold medalists Michael Phelps (swimming), Carly Patterson and Paul Hamm (gymnastics) and Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. Additional finalists include: Elisha Au (karate); Natalie Coughlin (swimming); Steven Lopez (taekwondo); Cael Sanderson (wrestling) and Andre Ward (boxing). Online voting on the USA Today Web site will help determine the winner, who will be announced April 13 in New York.

National Track & Field Hall of Fame nominations soughtIndividuals who would like to nominate an athlete, coach or contributor to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame may do so through May 1. Nomination information, forms, deadlines and criteria are available at the USATF Web site at: http://www.usatf.org/athletes/hof/nominationsTwo hundred and eight athletes, coaches and contributors currently are members of the Hall of Fame, which reopened in 2004 at its new location at the New Balance Track & Field Center at 168th Street in New York City. The Class of 2005 will be inducted this December at the Jesse Owens Awards Dinner and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The dinner is part of USA Track & Field's 2005 Annual Meeting in Jacksonville, Florida.

Lebourne sets world masters record

Anselm Lebourne of Maplewood, N.J., set a new world masters 45-49 age-group record Friday at the New Balance Track & Field Center in New York City.

Lebourne ran the 1,500 meters in 4 minute, 2.62 seconds to better the previous world record of 4:03.69 by Jon Potts of Great Britain in 1990. Lebourne's performance also betters the American record of 4:04.80 set in March of 1990 by Ken Sparks.