Al-Ahram Weekly | Sports

		19 - 25 September 2002 Issue No. 604 Sports	Current issue Previous issue Site map
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Run for it

TIM MONTGOMERY broke the world record in the men's 100 metres with an astonishing run of 9.78 seconds to win the Grand Prix final in Paris. Montgomery broke the old mark of 9.79 set by US compatriot Maurice Greene in Athens in June 1999. Greene was watching from the stands on Sunday as Montgomery broke his record and beat Dwain Chambers, who ran a lifetime best 9.87 to equal Linford Christie's British record and finish second. "I worked all my life for this. I can't believe it," Montgomery said.
Marion Jones cruised to victory in the 100 after main rival Zhanna Pintusevich- Block was disqualified for two false starts. The Ukrainian seemed too anxious to get a good start and clearly jumped the gun on both occasions. Deprived of her main rival, Jones looked comfortable during the run, powering to the front at the 60m mark and looking in no danger of losing her 16-race unbeaten run. The American clocked 10.88 seconds to beat Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas.
The world's fastest couple then stood side by side on the podium at the IAAF Grand Prix final in Paris' Charlety Stadium after collecting their trophies for winning the overall titles.
Although both were winners, it was Montgomery who stole the headlines after his one hundredth of a second world record break. "I thought 'Marion's done her bit. Now I'm going to go one better'," he said after posting 9.78. "She's like my guardian angel. Being around Marion, I asked her if there's anything I need to change. What I got was, 'Focus on you and what you've got to work on. They know you've got it. They know you're ready. You don't have to tell them you're ready.'"

Montgomery, left, is hugged by an unidentified team member after he broke the world 100-metre record. Right: Marion Jones
(photos: AFP)

The pair have trained together under the guidance of coach Trevor Graham for the past three years. The 27-year-old Montgomery now shares a house in North Carolina with Jones, who split with husband and former shot put champion CJ Hunter last year.
"Tim is so dedicated and likes to stay up for hours after a meeting, going through a race and analysing it because, like me, he is a total technician," Jones said. "I see him put in the time. I see him dissect his race over and over and over. All of a sudden everybody is really surprised when he has been around all along. He's overlooked so much. You always hear about Maurice and Dwain Chambers."
Montgomery had gone on record as saying he was capable of erasing Greene from the record books but he was surprised it happened so late in the season. "World records always happen when you expect them the least," he said.
"I knew I was in great shape and today everything was just perfect. The wind was perfect, my reaction time was almost perfect (0.104), but that is what you need to break world records. I knew the race would be fast. I just wanted to get there and run. I had no time objective, I just wanted to beat Chambers. I knew all along I could break it. I ran six times under 10 seconds in 1997 and I am telling you right now I trained three times a week. However, I don't expect the record to stay forever and it could well disappear next year and it might not be me who lowers it."
Montgomery, 27, received generous praise from Greene, who has shown an alarming slip in form. "Tim ran great today and deserved to break the record. It just gives me more motivation for next year to get it back," Greene, 28, said.
Almost overlooked was Britain's Chambers equalling Christie's European record of 9.87, but the 24-year-old took little comfort from a new personal best. "I am disappointed I didn't win," he said. "Times are somehow irrelevant to me. What I want is to win races. I don't like finishing second. I am pleased with the record yes, but my main feeling at this moment is disappointment for not having been able to beat Montgomery. I am traumatised by what Tim did, completely traumatised. But I will be back."

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