Plasso’s record likely to stand another year

Friday, Feb. 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The Las Vegas International Marathon record time of 2:12:37, set by Las Vegan Frank Plasso Jr., has stood for 10 years, and race director Al Boka suggested it probably won't fall in Sunday's 31st running of the event.

But if all goes according to plan, Plasso's record could be shattered next year if Boka's hope of increasing the prize money and visibility of the 26.2-mile race come to fruition.

"Plasso has held that record since 1986," Boka said. "He did it on a really good day and he wasn't motivated by the prize money. Since then, it's been a function of how much we're willing to offer for top runners to come in.

"Even if a guy is capable of running 2:12, he may not be willing to do it for $3,000. If he could win it in 2:16, he'll win it in 2:16 or whatever it takes."

Next year, however, promises to be a different story if Boka secures the sponsorship it will take to offer a prize fund of between $160,000 and $180,000.

"Then you'll be talking about (offering) $20,000 for first place, $15,000 for second place and so on," Boka said. "Then we can start getting some really, really good runners in here; sub-2-hour-and-10-minute guys."

For now, Boka said he doesn't expect to see a race record established Sunday, when an estimated 6,000 runners will gather for the full and half marathons.

Among the favorites in the men's full marathon is Andrey Kkuznetsov, a 39-year-old Russian who brings a personal-best time of 2:12:27 into the race, and defending champion Zoltan Holba of Hungary.

"Holba knows the course and he ran 2:15 and change last year," Boka said. "He might be a minute better this year, who knows? It all depends on their conditioning at the moment.

"I would say the favorite in the marathon is this Russian guy (Kkuznetsov); he would be my choice for the top contender."

Another foreign runner who has a unique incentive to win the LVIM is 33-year-old Yiorgos Karayiannis of Greece. According to Boka, a local man of Greek heritage paid for Karayiannis to come to Las Vegas for the marathon and has offered him a $50,000 bonus if he wins.

"We were sitting at dinner the other night and this Greek gentleman who lives in Las Vegas now said, 'You win the race and I personally guarantee you $50,000 over and above the prize,'" Boka said. "He is personally offering the bonus out of national pride. (Karayiannis) could run very hard on Sunday."

On the women's side, Boka said he wouldn't be surprised to see the record time of 2:37:20 eclipsed. A strong field of runners is led by Lyubov Klotchko of Ukraine. Klotchko won last year's Los Angeles Marathon in a time of 2:30:30 and has two sub-2:30 marathons to her credit, according to Boka.

"Even on a day of jogging, she should be capable of breaking our course record here," Boka said.