Courtesy: USATF

Tim Montgomery, in the past the bridesmaid to Maurice Greene in the 100-meter dash, seized the title of World's Fastest Human on Saturday as American athletes swept to the overall IAAF Grand Prix titles in Paris.

Running with the maximum tailwind allowed of 2.0 meters per second and getting off to a fast start with a virtually perfect reaction time of .104 seconds, Montgomery clocked 9.78 in the 100m at the IAAF Grand Prix Final, breaking Greene's world record of 9.79, set in 1999 in Athens, Greece. Dwain Chambers of Great Britain was a distant second to Montgomery in 9.87, tying the European record. American Jon Drummond was third in 9.97.

"This is the end of a great season for me, I knew I was in great shape and today everything was just perfect," Montgomery said. "The wind was perfect (2.0), my reaction time was almost perfect (0.104), 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."

Also lifting Montgomery was a payday of $250,000 and the overall IAAF Grand Prix crown. The 2001 U.S. 100m champion, 2001 World Championships silver medalist (behind Greene) and 2002 U.S. runner-up (also behind Greene) won $50,000 for winning the race, $100,000 for topping the Grand Prix point standings and $100,000 for the world record.

Montgomery's training mate, Marion Jones, also earned a hefty paycheck of $150,000 for winning the women's 100m in 10.88 seconds and taking home the overall Grand Prix honors on the women's side with 116 points. Gail Devers was second in the standings with 111 points, winning the 100m hurdles Saturday in 12.51 seconds.

On Saturday afternoon in Paris, Montgomery stole a Grand Prix championship that was believed to be going to either Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco or Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, who were undefeated this year in the 1,500m and 400m hurdles, respectively. But Montgomery's sizzling time and world record bonus points brought him 42 Grand Prix points, vaulting him from 74 to 116 points in the Grand Prix standings, tied with El Guerrouj.

Montgomery's world record broke the tie, and he stood alone as Grand Prix champion and World's Fastest Human.

Both Jones and Montgomery are coached in North Carolina by Trevor Graham. Their bond was made tighter last year when Montgomery ran his then-personal best time of 9.84 seconds in Oslo, Norway, while wearing a pair of racing spikes he borrowed from Jones. Montgomery went on to win 100m silver later that year at the World Outdoor Championships and to anchor Team USA to gold in the 4x100m relay at Worlds.

"I see the time and efforts he puts into training, the way he dissects each of his races," Jones said of Montgomery. "I know how he talks over and over about his training session and about what technical part of the race he improved . today, like every one else in the world, I am in awe of him."

Heading into the Grand Prix Final on Saturday, Montgomery's best time time of the year (with no illegal tailwind) had been 9.91 seconds, #2 in the world behind Greene's 9.89. He had posted wins in Brussels (9.91 on August 30) and Zurich (9.98 on August 16).

Other Americans also fared well Saturday at the Grand Prix Final. In addition to wins by Jones and Devers, Jeff Hartwig won the men's pole vault with a jump of 5.75m/18 feet, 10.4 inches and Adam Nelson won the shot put with a throw of 21.34m/70-0.25.

James Carter was third in the 400m hurdles (48.12) and Joey Woody was fourth (48.24 season best); Leonard Byrd was third in the 400m (44.92); and Michelle Collins (51.44), Jearl Miles Clark (51.48) and Monique Hennagan (51.57) placed third through fifth in the women's 400m.

For all American performances, complete results and quotes from Paris, visit www.iaaf.org.

IAAF Grand Prix Final Quotes - Courtesy of IAAF

Tim Montgomery (USA), winner of the men's 100m, world record holder (9.78) and overall Grand Prix title:

"You know; World Records always happen when you expect them the least. The weather was quite cool today like when I ran 9.84 in Oslo. I didn't know I would be able to break the World Record during the warm up. This is the end of a great season for me, I knew I was in great shape and today everything was just perfect. The wind was perfect (2.0), my reaction time was almost perfect (0.104), 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. After the women's race which was won in a very fast time, I was kind of eager to run. I knew the race would be fast, I just wanted to get there and run. I had no time objective today, I just wanted to beat Dwain Chambers. But I took my focus off Dwain to concentrate better. I decided to focus on Coby Miller and tried to get the better start possible. At 30m, I saw no-one was around me so I kept digging down as deep as possible. And from then on I kept running and running and running. I knew I could break the World Record ever since I ran 9.96 at the age of 19 when I had no muscles, no training and no technique. I didn't know when, but I knew I eventually would do it. There is no limit for the record: World Records are meant to be broken and I am sure they will all be. Maybe all expect Michael Johnson's 19.32!" On Hicham El Guerrouj

"I have a lot of respect for Hicham El Guerrouj. I was part of the American relay team in 1996 when Hicham fell in the 1500m Olympic final and I saw him lying on the track and crying. I asked myself why he was crying. Ever since I followed his career and witnessed what an exceptional athlete he is. From that day on, I never wanted to see him cry ever again."

Marion Jones (USA), winner of the women's 100m in 10.88 and winner of the IAAF Overall Grand Prix Standings:

"Today I am extremely happy for Tim Montgomery. I see him training every day, day after day in Raleigh. I see the time and efforts he puts into training, the way he dissects each of his races. I know how he talks over and over about his training session and about what technical part of the race he improved. Tim Montgomery is a technician and today, like every one else in the world I am in awe of him. This is the first time I saw a 100m World Record being beaten LIVE. Today we should all celebrate something incredible."

Gail Devers (USA), winner of the women's 100m Hurdles in 12.51

"This has been the longest season ever in my career but still a very good season for me. I have been saying since the beginning of the year that what mattered the most was being consistent and I have been pretty much consistent around 12.4/12.5. Wins and losses haven't been that important, I have made mistakes and as long as I can learn from my mistakes then all the wins and the losses become valuable experience. This was the first year I have been training by myself, so I believe I can be satisfied."

Dwain Chambers (GBR), second in the Men's 100m in an European record of 9.87 (equaled)

"I may have equalled the European record today but still, I have lost the race. I am disappointed I didn't win. 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 have had a great season this year but have also learnt a lot for the future. I will rest more between races, this has been the first year I have been faced to this type of race where very Friday you have to come out and be at your very best. If you want to know the whole truth, today I wanted to have the $50,000 dollars in my pocket! I am traumatized by what Tim did, completely traumatized. But I will be back."

Hicham EL Guerrouj (MAR), winner of the men's 1500M in 3:29.27 but only second in the IAAF Grand Prix Standings:

"These things happen in sport. I am an athlete and I like the sport for all it can offer including surprises. What Tim achieved today is exceptional, I take my hat off. No-one, including me, had ever thought of the possibility of him winning the Standings, so after Felix and I had run I thought I had got it. But I am happy that the sport offers such great moments. If I had lost a World Champions or the Olympic Games, yes I would have been disappointed but today I am just happy for Tim. If the IAAF was to give me the trophy of the Best Athlete of the Year I would have to pass it on to him for what he has done is fantastic. This will not spoil my birthday today. I will still celebrate with some of my closest friends in a Moroccan restaurant and take my mind off athletics."