How long will the new mark stand?

The Grand Prix final in Paris set the stage for the performance of Montgomery's life.

From an amazing reaction time out of 0.104 of a second out of the blocks, to a following wind of two metres a second - right on the legal limit - Montgomery's race was nigh on perfect.

Former holder Maurice Greene, who had earlier pulled out of the final citing fatigue, later vowed he would be aiming to reclaim the record.

Send us your tributes to Montgomery - and tell us how long you think his record will last.

This debate is now closed. A selection of your e-mails appear below.

Tim will be 'a flash in the pan'. Maurice has had a bad year because of other reasons. He is a consistent winner. Tim reminds me of another one hit wonder like Leroy Burrel. He ran a great race but Maurice is a great runner - big difference.
Domini, UK

Everyone is looking for an excuse for Montgomery breaking the record saying it was the wind and if Greene had that sort of wind speed he could break it. I think Greene will come back to a good season next time but I also think that now because of the record, Montgomery will get the recognition he deserves.

I also think Dwain Chambers has the potential to break the record and I think it will be broken again soon.
John Carr, Scotland

In a season when Greene was having a 'break' I'm pleased to see the world record go. I think it will spur Green on to much faster times and can't wait for next year.

However, Dwain Chambers has been overshadowed. He ran an awesome race and we should be celebrating the return of a truly world class sprinter to our ranks. Well done Dwain.
Ben Ramsay, UK

It gladdens my heart to know that Greene was on hand to see his record go down the drain, for he made too much noise of his former record, as if it were unbreakable.

Tim will still do better than he did in Paris, I am so sure of that. The new record is not the end, but wait for it, as a new stunning record is in the offing. It is just a great way to see the best of athletics, can't wait to see Greene's performance towards that.
Oluwashina Okeleji, Nigeria

Tim Montgomery got the world record, and I was so exited, because I never saw a world record live on TV. That was just amazing. I think it will last longer than just one year.
Tanya, Germany

Salutations. Tim has made the perfect race: 0.104s reaction time (0.100 is the quickest that can be achieved) and a perfect wind on the limit (+2m/s). But I was surprised that Tim broke the record, I always thought that Maurice Greene would break it (but not this season).
Fernando Gir�o, Portugal

Well done Tim, you're the best in the world...shame we can't say that about tennis, eh?
Dave H, England

I know this isn't the best way to look at athletics, or any other sport, but you must admit it would be funny if they took away drug testing from athletics.

Here we would properly see how quickly man can go, even though enhanced - who would not want to watch people going under nine secs for the 100m? Obviously not ethically right, and will never happen, but it's a thought that I've always had!
Luke, UK

Tough question...if, after a "fallow" 2002, Maurice Greene can get himself back on top of his game in World Championship year, and chance presents him with the perfect conditions it afforded Montgomery in Paris, I think he could retake the record.

I believe a fit, healthy, motivated Greene is capable of running 9.74-9.76 if all the right factors fall into place (something beyond any of the other top sprinters at the moment, Montgomery included).

It could be argued that it was a fallow year for Montgomery also, and he still ran 9.78, but Montgomery still has much more to prove than Greene, never having won a major championship gold and consistently talking a good fight while failing to deliver in the big events.

Also, he wasn't up against a Maurice Greene in peak form (Dwain Chambers is coming to the end of a championship-laden year, and couldn't realistically expect to beat a comparatively fresh Montgomery).

Even after such a disappointing season, I still think Greene has it in him to beat everyone. Whether he can take his record back depends on a number of conditions coming together in a manner rarely seen, but at the very least I think he's found something to motivate him through his winter training.
Ray Corley, United Kingdom

Props to Tim. I always knew he could pull off a 9.78/9.79 with a perfect race and perfect conditions. Wish him the best in the World Championships. But about the world record; if Maurice doesn't return to his 2001 form, the record might be here for a while.

Tim's two fastest times (9.84, 9.78) were set with a +2.0 wind, but if Maurice's two best races had that kind of wind (9.80 +0.3, 9.79 +0.1) his times would be 9.71 and 9.70 respectively, according to scientific research on the effects of wind and altitude.

Not taking anything away from Tim's performance, but when you consider that Maurice was only 0.04s from the new WR while limping to the line in Edmonton, against a head wind, doesn't it seem like that WR is well within his reach?
Ritchie, England

Maurice Greene will wipe the floor with everyone next season. 9.76 for Greene!
Adam, UK

As an international athlete myself, I feel that Maurice and Dwain are two of many men, including Mark Lewis-Francis, capable of bettering Tim's record, so I think that this is going to be the shortest-lived ever - look out for SUB 9.75!
Zatters D, UK

I'm thrilled for Tim - he's been dubbed one of the nearly men, but if people look at his previous times, they'll find it's no surprise he surpassed Greene's record. This guy oozes self confidence, but also comes across as polite, hardworking and respectful. He and Marion Jones must be the fastest couple alive!
Katie, UK

WOW that is awesome. I didn't think anyone could beat Maurice Greene's time. But Tim had a very good race that day. Seeing Tim beat the best time in the world really makes me believe that you can achieve your goals if you want them bad enough.

So, knowing that, I am going to try hard to go to state in track this year for my high school Wheatland High, and try to get my 10.5 to a 10.2 in my senior year like Maurice Greene did in his senior year. Tim, you're cool and all, but Maurice is still my dog.
Charles Johnson, California, USA

Yes, Monty broke the world record. However, Maurice has not been anywhere near his best this season and everyone knows that. When he returns stronger, fitter and faster than ever next year, he will once again prove he is the best sprinter on the planet!!

Monty as yet has no major championship to his name, Greene has plenty: three consecutive world golds, Olympic gold, a world 200m title, 60m world title, record 50m tied with Donavan Bailey and world and Olympic relay golds too!! (I could go on all day).

Lastly, Maurice is the most prolific sub-10 sec runner in history with 42, the nearest after that are Ato Boldon and Fredricks with 27 each. So on overall consistency, Maurice is still the fastest man in the world (if not for this year).

Greene, in my mind, is already one of the greatest of all time, and I believe he will prove it. Come August next year, look for a very fast time, watch Mo go. I'm one of his biggest fans and can't understand why so many insist on writing him off!

He will respond like the true champion that he is if he wants it badly enough and reclaim the record at a time around 9.75. Go Maurice, we are all with you!!
Ali Lalani, England

As an athletics fan, I was delighted to see Tim break the record. I believe it is just reward for the work that he has put in over the last few years. He may not be the showman that is Mo Greene, but he certainly deserves praise for what he has accomplished.

Dwain Chambers is an excellent athlete, but I do not know if he will ever overcome the Montgomerys and Greenes of this world.
Michael Williams, Zimbabwe

We've been here many times before in the last 20 years. You think it's going to be broken and it stays stubbornly fixed for a few years at a time. Unlike Michael Johnson's 200m record (which could outlast us all), there are still a few hundredths to be shaved off the 100m record.

Dwain has the ability to do it, and I'm not writing of Greene. Roll on summer 2003 - this wonderful blue riband event is in great shape at present.
Mark Fraser, UK

Much love to T-Mont for breaking the world record and picking up a very lucrative paycheque. T-Mont is the first human to erase the tainted legacy of Ben Johnson from the record books. He had perfect conditions for a race that will live in the memory of track athletes and fans forever.

But his race was still not perfect! His start is still flawed in that his arms were too close to his body during his early acceleration phase. I think T-Mont will break the record again next year, and he will bring the record down to a mind-bending 9.65s before he retires.
Eric, USA

Everyone thought that Greene's obliteration of Bailey's record would stand for years to come, so the shock of Montgomery's freak run is immense. The only sprinters currently capable of anything faster are Montgomery and Greene.

Chambers, Obikwelu, Collins and the like need to run sub 10's as consistently as Greene has done in his peak years, and they need at least until the 2004 Olympics to mature.

If Greene is past his best then the record will stand for teo years minimum, but I fear that Greene has more in the tank - we'll see next year! Although I guarantee we'll see a new 100m record before we see a new 200m record!
Ian Stamo, England

I think Montgomery's performance is a one off - much in the mould of Leroy Burrell a few years ago, who did not have the mental strength to win a major competition. Greene will be back, but I am more interested in seeing how much Chambers will be able to improve, and in particular what kind of impact Lewis-Francis can make in his first full season next year.
Vid G, England

For me this time comes as a very big surprise, but it will make for a great 2003 season. Chambers could be at the same level if he adjusts his starting phase and reaction time.
Maurizio, Italy

I think Greene will go the same way that Bailey went after the 96 Olympics - he has peaked. Montgomery, I think will be an Ato Bolden - a good one off athlete but not strong enough physically or mentally for the major champs. I think we could be seeing Chambers as world champion next year, with Mark Lewis Francis hot on his heels.
Toby Croucher, England

Congratulations to Tim Montgomery, fantastic run. But let's cheer Dwain Chambers, I feel that next year could be his as he now knows how to win the big races.
Simon Jarvis, England

I think Greene is a very powerful athlete and it want be long before he gets the record back.
John, Greece

Mark my words, Maurice Greene will break the world record again, he is really strong and he will come back. Apart from him, the other guy is Dwain Chambers, it was astonishing to see Chambers lowering his PB in every meet. I think the record will be broken at next year's World Championship.
Alexi Gunasekera, Sri Lanka

I must say I never expected Tim to break the record. I thought he was going to remain in Greene's shadow throughout his career. This is the kind of stuff that makes athletics interesting.

Which is why Flo-Jo's records should be removed from the books, because we all know those records were drug induced and are so unreachable that they may never be broken within the next 50 years.
Willz Odipo, Kenya

I think the world record will go lower and sooner if the likes of Greene, Chambers and Montgomery practice 'dipping' at the line!
Bill Hayes, England

My congratulations to a quiet yet confident unassuming champion. I do not think that the record will last very long because the pool of sprinting talent is much more concentrated now than at any other time in athletic history.

There are at 10 active sprinters around capable of running sub-10 seconds over 100m at any given time: Montgomery, Chambers, Greene, Bolden, Obikewelu, Collins, Drummond, Zakeri etc.

Then there are young guns like Lewis-Francis (England), Marc Burns and Darrel Brown (Trinidad & Tobago). Can't say when the record will go, but next year's athletic season should be very interesting.
Julian, Barbados

Perfect conditions: Track, weather, wind, reactions. This is why Montgomery came home with the record. With a 0 wind reading, that time would have been more like 9.84. But a record is a record.

Next year will be the best sprinting year since the early 90s. There is such a rich crop of talent. The great thing is that a lot of that is British. Mark Lewis-Francis will be dragged along by the dominant times of Chambers.

Lewis-Francis' first senior year has been dogged by injury, that he will overcome when he gets used to training more than 2 times a week! I am looking forward to next year already! PS. Stuff the golden league, I was at Crystal Palace and they don't need the status.
Jimbo, UK

One of those three guys: Chambers, Green and Montgomery will break this new world record next season, seeing the competition between those guys is becoming more and more rude. And don't forget the young talented Marc Lewis-Francis, what will he be able to do next season!
Abdelkhalek Laouane, Morocco

The record will last until next season's World Championships. If Maurice Greene is back to his best as we all hope and expect, look forward to a time of around 9.75 or below.
Shaun, UK

It seems that men's sprinting times have certainly consistently improved - however, very few could ever achieve sub 9.8.

Conditions need to be perfect, with physical and mental strength at peak. That's why I believe it will be quite some years before we see any significant improvement. Dwain has the talent, he just needs his day.
Chris Frost, UK

The 100m world record is one of the few events where we are already at the limit of what is physically possible. Therefore it is unlikely that the record will be broken for some time and when it does fall the new record is likely to be within 0.01 secs of Montgomery's. I won't be holding my breath for a return of the title to these shores.
Jeremy Bowley, UK

I was so happy for Tim at setting the world record and beating all his major competitors. Tim Montgomery is a person who will bring back honour and grace to a sport that has had to be content with awfully scrappy characters, i.e. Donovan Bailey, Maurice Green, Dwaine Chambers, Bernard Williams, etc.

This is because Tim demonstrates the quality of character we last saw with the great Carl Lewis and Leroy Burrell. Maurice Green will not be able to comeback to really challenge Tim. The record will stand for at least the next three years.
Soji, Germany

Congratulations Tim. The record should stand a while longer that Maurice Greene thinks!! Unless of course he stops shouting his mouth off and runs as fast as he speaks. Maurice should remember that actions speak louder than words, and also that you are only as good as your last race!
Richard, UK

I have to take my hat off to Tim. He's been in Greene's shadow for a few years now and he's taken the initiative when Maurice was out of action. Seeing the 100m record broken doesn't happen too often, so it was a real privilege and a pleasure.

Don't forget Dwain Chambers though. His time was truly world class, and he's reached that level at a younger age than Linford. How much faster can he go? I'm looking forward to next season!
Daniel, London, UK

Montgomery's WR will probably last about the same length of time as Greene's has (i.e. two or three years), unless the talented Dwain Chambers, who is advancing in leaps and bounds, can turn the tables.
Clive Wickham, England

There is no question that Tim ran an unbelievable race. He was in great shape, his reaction time excellent and conditions were near perfect too. Dwain, in those sorts of circumstances, could easily beat the world record but he'll have to work on his reaction time a lot.

He is considerably faster than Tim and Maurice in the final 40m. Next year at the world championships we will see a new world record. Maurice has vowed he will reclaim the record, but my money is on Dwain.
Shane Summers, England

It could be a while, we're getting closer to theoretical human speed limits now...
Mike D, UK