Powell Wins the Sullivan Award

INDIANAPOLIS — Mike Powell, the world record-holder in the long jump, received the 1991 AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award as nation’s outstanding amateur athlete Monday night.

Powell jumped 29 feet 4 1/2 inches in breaking Bob Beamon’s 23-year-old record and ending Carl Lewis’ 65-meet victory streak at the World Championships in Tokyo in August.

“The feeling I had in breaking the world record was a dream,” Powell said in his acceptance speech. “And it is still a dream. I couldn’t stop smiling and I went to bed smiling and I want to thank you for adding to my dream.”

Powell, 28, of West Covina, said that he plans to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games this summer in Barcelona, Spain.

The other finalists for the award were: Mike Barrowman, swimming; Kent Ferguson, diving; Eric Griffin, boxing; Michael Johnson, athletics; Sarah Josephson, synchronized swimming; Christian Laettner, basketball; Donna Weinbrecht, freestyle skiing; Kristi Yamaguchi, figure skating; and Kim Zmeskal, gymnastics.