Former NSU sprinter Montgomery breaks world 100m record
Former Norfolk State and CIAA sprint champion Tim
Montgomery set a new world record in the 100 meters, clocking a
time of 9.78 Saturday in a Grand Prix final in France.
Montgomery,
who has competed internationally since 1996, shaved .01 of a second
off world and Olympic champion Maurice Greene's record set in 1999.
Montgomery finished second to Greene at last year's world championships
but had vowed that this would be his year to shine.
The 27-year old Gaffney, South Carolina native ran at Blinn Junior
College before transferring to Norfolk State and running for former
world class sprinter Steve Riddick.
In Saturday's final he ran from the same lane and the same blocks
that new girlfriend Marion Jones used to win her 100 meter race just
before the men's race. He said he was trying to do her one better. Both
champions are trained by former St. Augustine's running guru
Trevor Graham.
Montgomery received $250,000 for his win, including $100,000 for
breaking the world record. Greene, the Olympic and world champion, watched
Montgomery's' run into the record book from the stands after withdrawing
from the meet citing fatigue. Montgomery stunned the small crowd at
the half-empty Stade Charlety, beating Dwain Chambers of Britain (9.87),
and American Jon Drummond (9.97).
"I knew something special was in me,'' Montgomery said. "I
can say I'm the fastest man to ever run the 100 meters."
