Montgomery runs fast 100 ever

PARIS, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- American Tim Montgomery set a world record in the 100 meters Saturday at Stade Charlety, clocking 9.78 seconds to win the IAAF Grand Prix title.

The 27-year-old sprinter topped the record of 9.79 seconds set by American Maurice Greene in 1999. Greene was not entered in the meet but was in attendance.

"This is the end of a great season for me," Mongtomery said. "I knew I was in great shape and today everything was just perfect. The wind was perfect, my reaction time was almost perfect, but that is what you need to break world records.

"I only realized I had done something special after finishing, when my coach ran towards me on the track and lifted me up in the air."

The race itself was a classic, with Dwain Chambers of Britain pushing Montgomery and American Jon Drummond and Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis running hard.

Montgomery was helped by a tailwind that registered 2.0 meters a second, which is the maximum permissible for performances to count as records. He broke from the starting line just .104 seconds after the gun.

"We always talk about things being perfect -- today was perfect right down to the wind speed," said Montgomery, who earned $50,000 for winning the race, $100,000 for setting a world record and another $100,000 for claiming the Grand Prix title.

Chambers finished second, equalling the European record of 9.87 seconds. Drummond posted a season-best 9.97, with Collins establishing a national record of 9.98.

"I am traumatized by what Tim did, completely traumatized," Chambers said. "But I will be back."

A silver medalist at last year's world championships, Montgomery had a previous best of 9.84 seconds. The South Carolina native had not run faster than 9.91 this season.

"World records always happen when you expect them the least," he said.

"Tim Montgomery is a technician and today, like everyone else in the world, I am in awe of him," said American Marion Jones, the best female sprinter in the world. "Today we should all celebrate something incredible."