The odds are heavily in favour of Kavin Smith improving on his time of two hours, 29 minutes and 45 seconds clocked in the Las Vegas Marathon last Sunday, according to one of his most recent assistants, Lee Tucker.

Painful, heavily-chafed legs and tough terrain in the desert of Nevada made the going somewhat rough on Bermuda's top runner, who nevertheless managed to crack the two hour, 30 minute barrier with a great effort in the 26.2 mile distance. That time left him just nine minutes short of the qualifying time for this year's Sydney Olympic Games.

But the performance was impressive enough to have Smith and his new team assistants of his father Clarence Smith and Tucker, a former Bermuda Track and Field executive, looking ahead with optimism.

"We talked with Kenyan runner Richard Rono in Las Vegas; he ran in the Bermuda International 10k a few years ago, Kevin overtook him at the 18 mile mark and he said that the way Kevin overtook him Kevin could take off nine minutes given proper training and should be able to make the Olympic qualifying time,'' said Tucker.

"The conditions there were a little unusual. It was a very dry area and much of the race was in the desert where it started, there were no houses or trees around, he was running against open space and by not being able to judge himself.

By seeing much of nothing, you are moving your legs and it looks like you are standing still.

"This was tough, you had to concentrate and attempt to adjust to these conditions. Then there is a long, slight incline of terrain that makes it unusual. Here at home we have a small upgrade and quick down hill course, but the upgrade out there was about three to four miles that you had to contend with and it was a challenge,'' said Tucker. But the biggest handicap to Smith was the chafing, something which developed as a result of the very dry and humid conditions.

According to Tucker the dry perspiration had a negative effect that led to the chafing and had they realised this would occur they would have taken some heavy vaseline for him to put between his legs.

"This chafing occurred around mile 19 to 20 and the area where his legs rubbed together really became raw -- just like a piece of meat -- and he was forced to run with his legs wider apart which obviously helped to break his concentration,'' said Tucker.

"Like the true champion we have come to know that he is, Kavin still persevered, hung in there and eventually came through with a very good time under the extraordinary conditions.

It makes us believe that he can in fact trim off several more minutes in the marathon.'' There has been speculation that the Boston marathon in April could be what Kavin will strive for next, but Tucker said no definite decision has been made.

Another race he may consider is one being staged in San Diego in a few months' time "I personally am confident that he will be able to improve on that time he ran in Las Vegas. I don't know about qualifying right now, I will not make any sort of predictions, but we feel certain he will trim off some minutes and get to Ray Swan's time of 2:26,'' said Tucker.

Tucker explained that he was aware of the many problems that Smith had been having when it came to gaining some local assistance for overseas preparations -- much of which he (Tucker) attributed to failures by the BTFA -- and he was pleased to be aboard to offer whatever help he could.

"I have some contact over there in Las Vegas, they have been inviting us up for some time and Kavin, having been trying to make the Olympic qualifying time, agreed to give this particular event a shot.

"I surely do hope that he will be able to fulfil his potential. He should have had regular international exposure a long time ago, unfortunately he didn't get the right connections and people to work with him.'' Kavin Smith: Should have had regular international exposure.