ORLANDO, FL (February 7, 2001) - The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) today announced the names of the ten finalists for the 71st Annual AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, Sponsored by LamisilAT which recognizes the top amateur athlete in the nation. Olympic gold medalist Greco-Roman wrestler Rulon Gardner was among the ten first round finalists. The other finalists are Shane Battier (basketball), Luke Donald (golf), Lisa Fernandez (softball), Rulon Gardner (wrestling), Josh Heupel (football), Lenny Krayzelburg (swimming), Stephen Lopez (taekwondo), Tara Nott (weightlifting), Christi Smith (track & field), and Laura Wilkinson (diving). Narrowed from a field of over 30 nominees, the ten first-round finalists will be reduced to five athletes and their names will be released in mid-March. From the five names, the National winner will be formally announced in early April. The award, given to the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States, is based on qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism. Both athletic accomplishment and strong moral character are considered by a 800 member panel of AAU board of directors, the U.S. Olympic Committee board of directors, the AAU Sullivan Committee, past Sullivan Award winners, and a select members of the sports media. "These individuals exemplify the best amateur athletes in all of sport with their commitment to sportsmanship, community, and education," said AAU President Bobby Dodd. "The AAU represents 34 sports from the grass roots to the national level, they are the role models for our athletes to follow." Considered the "Oscar" of sports awards, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been presented to prominent athletes of our time including last year's recipient Coco and Kelly Miller. Others include: Chamique Holdsclaw (1998), Peyton Manning (1997), William "Bill" Bradley (1965), Dan Jansen (1994), Janet Evans (1989), Jim Abbott (1987), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1986), Greg Louganis (1984), and the late Florence Griffith-Joyner (1988). The AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, sponsored by LamisilAT has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930 as a salute to founder and past president of the AAU, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan. The winner of the AAU Sullivan Award receives a bronze replica of the original trophy that depicts the figure of a runner carrying a laurel branch mounted on a black pedestal. The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs for all ages. Nearly 500,000 participants and over 50,000 volunteers share our philosophy of "Sports for All, Forever. Divided into 58 distinct associations, the AAU sanctions more than 34 sports programs, 250 national championships and over 10,000 local events across the United States annually. The AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award is sponsored by LamisilAT Cream, the best way to cure your athlete's foot. LamisilAT Cream is manufactured and marketed by Novartis Consumer Health, which is headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, and is a leading consumer pharmaceuticals and food company. The Division includes Gerber Products Company, Novartis OTC (over-the counter medicines), Health and Functional Nutrition and Medical Nutrition. Focusing on consumer needs and preferences, each NCH Sector provides well-known, high-quality products to enhance overall health and well-being for millions of American consumers each day. Meet the Finalists 2000 AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award sponsored by LAMISILAT Rulon Gardner: Sport: Wrestling Accomplishments: 2000 Olympic Gold medalist in 130 kg (286 lb)...Defeated previously unbeaten Alexandre Kareline of Russia...Won five matches on the way to Olympic Gold...Led U.S. Greco-Roman team to third place finish in medal count - highest in U.S. history...2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Champion...2000 U.S. Nationals Champion...2000 Pan American Championship Champion...Won gold at the 200 Dave Schultz Memorial International and Granma Cup...Compiled a 24-2 record in 2000...Selected by his peers at Olympics to carry American flag during Closing Ceremonies in Sydney. School: Graduate of University of Nebraska Hometown: Afton, WY Present Occupation: Athlete/USOC Training Center Shane Battier: Sport: Men's Basketball Accomplishments: Voted preseason player of the year by his peers nationwide and Sports Illustrated... 2000 NABC Co-Defensive player of the year... First Team Atlantic Coast Conference selection... Earned Wooden All-American Honors...Consensus second team All-American, Appointed by the NCAA as President of the Student Basketball Council, Named to Academic All-American Team, Spends time working with elementary students learning to read...was asked by former Sullivan winner...Senator Bill Bradley to assist his campaign for 2000 Presidential bid. School: Duke University Hometown: Birmingham, MI Present Occupation: Student Luke Donald: Sport: Men's Golf Accomplishments: Finished season the No.1 ranked amateur golfer in the nation... Played in four professional tournaments during the summer...(as an amateur) winning the Chicago Open by six shots...Won the 2000 Big Ten Championship...Named Big Ten Golfer of the Year for the second year in a row...Finished seventh at 2000 NCAA Championship...Won the Big Ten's Les Bolstad (lowest season stroke average) for the second consecutive year...Led team with 71.00 career stroke average...Finished season with four individuals wins, finished second twice, third twice, fifth once, sixth once and seventh once. School: Northwestern University Hometown: High Wwycombe, Buckinghamshire, England Present Occupation: Student Lisa Fernandez: Sport: Women's Softball Accomplishments: Member of the 2000 Olympic Softball team that won Gold...Led the team during its 63-0 pre-Olympic tour - helped extend teams win streak to program record 112...Pitched two complete game victories in the semi-final and Gold medal game...Established a record for strikeouts with 25 against Australia...Led the U.S. pitching staff with 52 strikeouts - complied in 29.2 innings...During pre-tour, led team in both hitting .464 (58 for 125) and pitching 12-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 79.1 innings of work...Seven victories came via perfect games, with one no-hitter...Assists with clinics and camps to help build the softball program in the U.S. School: NA Hometown: Long Beach, CA Present Occupation: Assistant Softball Coach at UCLA Josh Heupel: Sport: Football Accomplishments: As a junior, he led the University of Oklahoma to a BCS and NCAA National Championship with a 13-0 season...Broke almost every passing record at OU...Named First team All-American by the Football Writers Association, AP, American Football Coaches Assocition, and the Walter Camp Foundation...Selected Player of the Year by CBS Sports and Walter Camp Foundation...Runner-up for Heisman Trophy...Leads the nation in passing percentage (.658) by hitting 256 of 389 passes for touchdowns...Started a food program at OU where 15,000 lb of canned goods were delivered to 175 families. School: University of Oklahoma Hometown: Aberdiene, SD Present Occupation: Student Lenny Krayzelburg: Sport: Men's Swimming Accomplishments: Won three gold medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics - 100 meter backstroke, 200 meter backstroke, and lead off for the world record-breaking 400 meter medley relay...Named 2000 USA Swimming Swimmer of the Year...Won 100 and 200 meter backstroke at U.S. Olympic Trials to make U.S. Olympic Team...Member of the Gold winning 400 meter medley relay at Short Course World Championships- was recovering from a foot injury during the meet...Presented his first Olympic Gold Medal to his father. School: University of Southern California Hometown: West Hollywood, CA Present Occupation: Swimmer/USA Swimming Stephen Lopez: Sport: Taekwondo Accomplishments: 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist in featherweight division (between 127.7 and