Tim Montgomery shocked even himself by setting to a new world 100 metres record to win the IAAF Grand Prix final in Paris.
The 27-year-old American sprinter could not believe his eyes when, after dipping across the line, he looked at the stadium scoreboard displaying an almost unbelievable 9.78 seconds.
"I came here to beat Dwain Chambers not break the world record," was the first reaction of Montgomery, after a vital head-to-head with his British rival.
With Maurice Greene missing the meeting through lack of form, Montgomery and Chambers were expected to battle to become the "Kansas Cannonball's" natural successor.
And last year's world silver medallist Montgomery shaved 0.01secs off the 9.79secs run by his USA colleague in Athens three years ago.