Tim Montgomery says he's about to hire a coach, and his latest race shows he probably needs one.
At the start, the world record holder stumbled and had to run for his life just to finish second in the 100m at the US track and field championships Friday night.
PHOTO: AP
"In that race, I definitely needed help," Montgomery said.
Bernard Williams won the race in 10.11 seconds. Montgomery was second in 10.15, and Jon Drummond third in 10.18. All three join Maurice Greene as US entrants in the 100m at the world championships in Paris Aug. 23-31.
Greene, who has an automatic spot as the defending champion, watched Thursday's competition and was noncommittal about the prospects of another US sweep at the worlds.
"I'm going to win the gold medal," Greene said. "I don't know what's going to happen after that."
While Montgomery staggered, Kelli White sizzled to a personal best 10.93 seconds, eclipsing the 10.95 she recorded at this year's Prefontaine Classic. They are the two fastest times in the world this year.
"I think I'm just learning how to run and how to compete," said White.
Torri Edwards finished second in 11.13. Gail Devers, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 100 still racing at age 36, was third at 11.16.
White moves on to the 200, where she will face 17-year-old sensation Allyson Felix and 31-year-old former world champion Inger Miller.
The top three in each event make the US team for the worlds.
Devers declined to talk to reporters, and said she will talk after she competes in the 100m hurdles.
Montgomery said he came up too fast out of the blocks, then stumbled when he tried to lengthen his stride and touched one hand to the track. When he regained his balance, he found himself in sixth place with 80 meters to go.
It went through his mind that he was about to fail to make the US team for the worlds.
"I just closed my eyes and ran," Montgomery said.
He caught Drummond but not Williams, whose sprint career has been overshadowed by the constant sniping between Greene and Montgomery.
"It doesn't bother me," Williams said. "I use it as motivation."
Williams -- the bronze medalist behind Greene and Montgomery at the 1991 worlds -- said he needs the attention, and the money, the US title will bring after the birth of his daughter Jadin on May 3.
"I can use it to buy Pampers," he said.
Montgomery has raced without a coach after pressure from US and international track officials forced him and girlfriend Marion Jones to abandon working with Charlie Francis, the Canadian coach disgraced by his connection to steroid use by Ben Johnson.
The two tried to make their work with Francis secret, but the word leaked out.
Montgomery said something has come together with a new prospective coach in the past few days but wouldn't say with whom, only that an announcement could come as early as next week.
"After what happened last time [with Francis], we'll make sure to announce it the right way," Montgomery said.
Other men's winners Friday included Jamie Nieto in the high jump, Dwight Phillips in the long jump, James Parker in the hammer throw, Tim Broe in the 5,000 and Kevin Eastler in the 20km walk.
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