His stars run off, but coach is still on track.

• Author: Goldberg, Steve
• Position: Tar Heel Tattler - Track, field stars Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery leave coach Trevor Graham - Brief Article

It should have been a time of joy: Raleigh sprint specialist Trevor Graham was being honored by USA Track & Field, the sport's governing body, as 2002 Nike Coach of the Year. Yet rumors abounded that his biggest stars, Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery, were about to bolt.

A week later, Jones made it official: She was leaving Graham for a Canadian trainer little known in track-and-field circles. Then Jones and Montgomery were seen at a Toronto track with outlaw coach Charlie Francis, best known for pumping up Ben Johnson with steroids before his world record in the 100 meters at the 1988 Olympics. Under pressure from international and domestic track federations -- and reportedly their corporate sponsor, Nike -- Jones and Montgomery cut ties with Francis.

In almost seven years with Graham, Jones won five medals -- three of them gold --at the 2000 Olympics and was undefeated in 2002. Montgomery joined Graham's camp in 1999 and set a world record in the 100-meter dash last year. Their exit wasn't without financial pain...