THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 16, 1996 TAG: 9606160155
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: 84 lines
They are the best of friends, roommates, former junior college teammates and closer than most brothers.
Now, too, it is clear that Norfolk State's Tim Montgomery and Brian Lewis are among the swiftest of sprinters this country has to offer.
Their relationship was draped in pure drama Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, when the pair of sophomores who do everything together literally completed their 100-meter semifinal at the same time.
Both clocked 10.09 seconds - a dead-heat for fourth place in their heat, and for the eighth and last spot in the final. Lewis dipped his shoulders at the end, straining for the wire and perhaps losing an inch or two. Montgomery, though, ran straight through.
That made all the difference, which was hardly any difference at all.
Montgomery, a South Carolinian who arrived at Norfolk State with Lewis last fall, was given the official nod a few long minutes following the heat. After he and Lewis knelt in prayer, Montgomery disappeared into a stadium tunnel to await the verdict, while Lewis stayed near the track.
Finally, Lewis came into view, caught Montgomery's eye and, without a word, pointed at him.
``I made it. I made it,'' Montgomery screamed as he and Lewis embraced. ``Whooooo-ooooo!''
``I knew we both ran the same time, that's why we prayed together,'' Lewis said. ``We said we'd rather both of us get in there, but if not, at least one of us. That's why I'm proud of him for that.''
Three and a half hours later, Montgomery lined up next to the stars of American sprinting, including Carl Lewis, Dennis Mitchell, Michael Marsh, Jon Drummond and Leroy Burrell to run for three Olympic team berths.
There, Montgomery, at 21 the youngest finalist, finished seventh in 10.12, besting Carl Lewis, who was last. Mitchell won in 9.92, Marsh was second in 10.0 and Drummond was third in 10.01.
``My dream has come true tonight,'' Montgomery said of beating Carl Lewis. ``This was a great experience for me, and I've got many more to come. I wish we could run it again so I could correct some mistakes I made. . . . I concentrated on the people who were in the race more than I concentrated on my own running. That's what messed me up.''
But the moment of glory for Montgomery, Norfolk State and coach Steve Riddick, a '76 Olympian from Norfolk State, had been captured in prime time by NBC's cameras.
The exposure couldn't have come at a better time, Riddick said. The Spartans will move up to Division I next year and were ineligible to compete in this season's Division II championships.
``This is great stuff,'' said Riddick, who got Montgomery and Lewis from Blinn Junior College in Texas when Blinn killed its track program. ``I just hope the Hampton Roads area gets involved in it and appreciates it. I think it's a boon to the whole community.''
Also Saturday, former Norview High School star Tonya Williams nearly caught former world-record holder Sandra Farmer-Patrick at the wire in their 400-meter hurdles semifinal.
It wasn't enough to convince Williams, who ran 54.96, that she could finish in the top three in today's final. But Farmer-Patrick, who clocked 54.88, seemed a little concerned.
``Girl, why you doing that to me?,'' Farmer-Patrick said with a laugh as she hugged Williams in the interview area.
``We were just trying to help each other,'' replied Williams, a two-time NCAA 400-meter hurdles champion for Illinois.
``We did, but God . . .'' Farmer-Patrick said, massaging her hip.
Williams said she ran relaxed, as she did in Friday's first round, and was intent on a fast time - which wound up fifth-best - in order to get a prime lane assignment for the final.
``Two down, one to go. I feel great,'' said Williams, who said she would not apply extra pressure to herself now that she's a race away from the Olympics.
``I wouldn't say I'm so close,'' Williams said. ``Sandra's a 52-second hurdler. I'm sure she just did enough to win her heat. I'm a 54-hurdler, but that's with people who run 54. I'm not saying if they run 52 I can run 52. But if they do, I'm gonna give it my best shot to stay as close as possible.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color AP Photo
Dennis Mitchell, center, wins the 100-meter final in 9.92 seconds,
followed by Mike Marsh, right, and Jon Drummond.
ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Norfolk's Tonya Williams matches Sandra Farmer-Patrick stride for
stride in 400 hurdles heat before finishing second. by CNB