ORLANDO, Fla. -- Michelle Kwan and high school runner Alan Webb were among the five finalists announced Tuesday for the James E. Sullivan Memorial Award.

Also nominated were swimmer Natalie Coughlin, baseball player Mark Prior and gymnast Sean Townsend.

The award recognizes the nation's top amateur athlete. The winner will be announced April 9 in New York.

Kwan, winner of the Olympic bronze medal, would become only the second figure skater to win the Sullivan, following Dick Button in 1949. Kwan won her fourth world title in 2001.

Webb ran the mile in 3 minutes, 53.43 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic, breaking the national high school record of 3:55.3 set by Jim Ryun in 1965.

Coughlin swims for California. Over a five-day span, she won nine events and broke two world records.

Prior was USA Baseball's 2001 Golden Spikes Award winner. The pitcher is a Chicago Cubs prospect.

Townsend, the 2001 parallel bars world champ, helped the United States win a team silver medal at the 2001 worlds. Kurt Thomas in 1979 was the only other gymnast to win the Sullivan.