Former N.C. Central track and field star Jason Smoots signed a three-year endorsement contract with shoe giant Nike on Tuesday that, in the sprinter's words, left him "very, very pleased."

He could not discuss the dollar value of his Nike contract but did say that it will guarantee him gear, travel and a salary with plenty of performance incentives.

"It's better than what most people receive starting off," Smoots said. "It feels good. It's like everybody wants to sign with somebody, but not everybody gets to sign with Nike."

Smoots, a six-time NCAA Division II champion at NCCU, has been training in Cary for the last month with the world's fastest couple, Tim Montgomery and Marion Jones.

He will compete in the Pan-American Games on Aug. 5-9 in the Dominican Republic, running the second leg on the 400-meter relay with Olan Coleman, Mickey Grimes and Kaaron Conwright.

After that, he said, Nike will arrange a competition schedule for him.

"It's like running meets for your college," said Smoots, who actually wore Adidas until last year, "but it's a job now."

Smoots, a native of Gadsen, Ala., won five individual championships at NCCU -- three in indoor sprints and two in the outdoor 100 -- and ran on the Eagles' NCAA champion 400 relay team two years ago.

He received his bachelor's degree in recreation and sports management from NCCU last December and was named the NCAA Division II Male Track Athlete of the Year in May. He also won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. 400 relay at the IAAF World Cup in Madrid last September.

Smoots said that he received a phone call three weeks ago from Montgomery, who invited Smoots to come train with Jones, himself and their coach, Dan Paff.

"We're in the same area, and I think he heard about me through word of mouth," Smoots said.

Montgomery and Jones, who live together in the Triangle and had a child together last month, are the world's top-ranked male and female sprinters.

Montgomery owns the world record in the 100 with a time of 9.78 seconds.

"I'm training with the world's fastest human -- you can't ask for better than that," Smoots said. "He has been very helpful, he and Marion both. I'm grateful to get to know them."