Montgomery set to dethrone Greene as number one
Agencies, Paris
World silver medalist Tim Montgomery is set to dethrone fellow- American Maurice Greene as world number one over the 100 meters at Saturday's Grand Prix athletics final.
Greene pulled out of the meeting on Thursday after a disappointing season during which he has failed to reproduce the dominant form of the last few seasons.
Greene, the Olympic and world champion, has been top of the world rankings since they were introduced two years ago. although Montgomery defeated him at the Zurich and Brussels Golden League meetings.
"To become the number one would be very important to me," Montgomery said this week. "It has given me extra motivation to know that I can take the lead in the event rankings.
"By the end of the year I really do hope my name will be at the top of the list. That will prove that I have been the best sprinter in the world this year."
World 400 meters hurdles champion Felix Sanchez has been granted the opportunity to run the 400 flat as well in an unusual double on Saturday.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has changed the schedule to allow Sanchez to run the hurdles first followed by the flat.
Only American Harry Hillman has completed the 400 double at a major championship, winning both races at the 1904 St Louis Olympics. The 400 meters was run as a straight final with 13 competitors and no lanes.
"We have agreed to this request because it is the duty of our sport's leaders to create unique opportunities for athletes," said IAAF general secretary Istvan Gyulai.
"We want new heroes to emerge who are ready to take on supreme challenges and who have the ambition to enter the history books."
Sanchez added: "I have been planning this all season and now I am delighted to have the possibility to do what has never been done before. It will be very tough."
Born in New York and raised in California, Sanchez competes for the Dominican Republic where his parents were born.
"I am in very good shape, I feel very strong and I want to remain undefeated all year round," Sanchez said. "I want to make my own mark on history and I want to do this by winning a 400- meter hurdles double."
Meanwhile, dominant athletes Marion Jones and Hicham El Guerrouj can add the Grand Prix titles to their share of the Golden League bonus of a 50-kilogram gold bar in the IAAF Grand Prix finals.
Jones has been unstoppable in the 100 meters this term easily seeing off Zhanna Pintusevich-Block, the woman who dethroned her as world champion last year, while El Guerrouj has looked imperious in his demolition of his rivals in the 1,500 meters.
On Saturday they go into the finals meeting with two hurdlers breathing down their backs in the overall standings.
Jones, though, can afford to finish third even if 35-year-old legend Gail Devers - who trails by five points - wins her 100 meters hurdles race and, with the golden girl of athletics not having lost this season, it appears an unlikely scenario.
"I am tired but raring to go and see out this last race and I don't want to get beaten in my last competition of the campaign," the 26-year-old said.
El Guerrouj is tied on 92 points with outstanding 400 meters hurdler Felix Sanchez but will win the title even if both athletes win their races on the basis of times run in their respective events this season.
As the Moroccan prince of the track celebrates his 28th birthday on Saturday he won't want to mess it up.
"Now is not the time to lose my first race of the season," said El Guerrouj, whose only failure this season has been not to break any of his world records.