Princeton University Athletics
January 06, 2000 | Heavyweight Rowing
Jan. 6, 2000
ORLANDO, FLA - Princeton graduate Chris Ahrens '98 (Whitefish Bay, Wisc.) has been named one of 10 finalists for the 70th Annual AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, sponsored by LamisilAT which recognizes the top amateur athlete in the country. Ahrens graduated from Princeton in 1998 after a very successful rowing career.
Aherns, who shared the William C. Roper Award as Princeton's outstanding senior male athlete in 1998, led the heavyweight crew to national championships in 1996 and 1998 and the freshman national championship in 1995. He has experienced a great deal of success at the international level. Ahrens won his third consecutive championship eight title at the 1999 Head of the Charles—the world's largest regatta. He stroked the men's eight to its third consecutive world title at the 1999 FISA World Rowing Championships, helping the United States to become only the second country in history to win three straight world titles in the eight event. Last summer Aherns picked up his fourth world championship gold medal in as many tries and became only the second man in history to stroke a man's eight to at least three world titles. In doing so, he tied boatmate Bob Kaehler for the most world championship gold medals by a man in U.S. history.
The AAU Sullivan Award recognizes athletes who have achieved athletic excellence and have exhibited leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism. It has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930 as a salute to the founder and past president of the AAU, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan.
The ten first-round finalists will be reduced to the top five and their names will be released in mid-February. From the top five names, the national winner will be formally announced in late March in New York City.
Considered the "Oscar" of sports awards, the AAU James E. Sullivan has been presented to prominent athletes of our time, including Princeton graduate William "Bill" Bradley. Others include: Chamique Holdsclaw (1998), Peyton Manning (1997), Dan Jansen (1994), Janet Evans (1989), Jim Abbott (1987), Jackie-Joyner Kersee (1986), Greg Louganis (1984) and the late Florence Griffith-Joyner (1988).
Other finalist for this year's Sullivan award are Mark Ruiz (diving), Matt Busbee (swimming), Stephen Neal (men's golf), Jason Jennings (baseball), Kelly and Coco Miller (women's basketball) and Stacey Nuveman (softball).
