by Larry EderOne of the most exciting stories to come out of the 2010 Bank of America Chicago marathon,
is Desiree Davila. Des has had an extraordinary year. In March, Des made the U.S. team for the World Indoor Champs. In Doha, Qatar, Des ran 8:51 for the 3,000 meters, and the final of the World Indoor Champs!
Desiree Davila, USA Outdoor Champs, 10,000 meters, photo by PhotoRun.net.
In June 2010, Des ran a brilliant 10,000 meter race at the USA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Davila finished third, running 32:22.
In speaking to her coaching team, the brothers Hanson, RBR learnt that Des did not have a perfect marathon buildup. She missed some time about five weeks into her marathon training. As Davila noted in the post Chicago press conference, she had confidence in her training and she ran the race very smart.
Running from behind, Desiree Davila rushed into fourth place over the last several miles, running a fine 2:26:20, making her the fourth fastest American ever in the marathon! Only Deena Kastor, Joan Benoit Samuelson and Kara Goucher have run faster.
Des ran her personal best, even with less than perfect training. Des Davila showed also, that with the support of a sponsor (and most of our top athletes are sponsored by a major running footwear company), athletes have the time to develop their talents! Congrats to Des Davila
and her fine race on 10.10.10.
Hansons-Brooks
ODP Runner Davila Finishes Top U.S. Woman in Chicago
Brooks-sponsored
Athlete Places Fourth at Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Becomes
Fourth Fastest American Female in History
Chicago
(Oct. 10, 2010) – Desiree Davila, member of the Hansons-Brooks Original
Distance Project (ODP), an elite running group sponsored by Brooks®
Sports, today became the first American female finisher and fourth-place
overall female finisher at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Davila clocked
in an unofficial time of 2:26:20, a personal record, making her the fourth
fastest U.S. female marathoner of all time. Only Olympic medalist Deena Kastor,
Olympic medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Kara Goucher have run faster.
“All my hard work
and consistent strength training really gave me a strong base for a great race
here at Chicago,” said Davila, 27. “I am ecstatic that all the
pieces fell into place on race day, and I was able to reach both my goals of a
PR and finishing as top American woman. Now my focus will shift to the 2012
U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and earning a spot on the Olympic team in
London.”
Competing
in a tough women’s field that included defending champion Liliya
Shobukhova of Russia, 2009 Chicago Marathon runner-up Irina Mikitenko of
Germany, and 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon team member Magdalena Lewy-Boulet,
Davila ran a patient and strategic race throughout the 26.2 miles. She clocked
1:13:07 at the halfway mark, on pace for a personal record. As runners battled
temperatures near 70 degrees, Davila maintained her goal pace, adding kick in
the final stretch. By mile 20, she moved into sixth place and advanced to fifth
place by mile 23. By mile 25, Davila grasped fourth place, which she defended
for the remainder of the race.
“Today
Desi catapulted herself into the position of the top four U.S. women
marathoners, placing her amongst American marathoning royalty,” said
Kevin Hanson, co-founder and coach of the Hansons-Brooks ODP. “Joanie,
Deena, and Kara have all been wonderful ambassadors of the sport, and it is an
honor to have Desi’s name listed so close to these marathon icons.”
Other
top Hansons-Brooks ODP female team member performances came from Melissa White
and Dot McMahan, who finished 16th and 17th,
respectively, with times of 2:35:02 and 2:36:01. On the men’s side,
Hansons-Brooks ODP runners Mike Morgan and Luke Humphrey finished 11th
and 12th, respectively, with times of 2:14:55 and
2:15:49.
“We’re
so proud of Desi, and of all the Hansons-Brooks runners who raced today,”
said Jesse Williams, sports marketing manager for Brooks Sports. “The
group continues to make great strides in distance running by supporting and
pushing each other every day, all while showcasing the Run Happy spirit Brooks
is all about. Desi showcased that today!”
Founded
with the mission to revive American distance running, the Hansons-Brooks ODP is
the one of the largest post-collegiate elite running groups in the nation.
Living, working, and running together on a daily basis, they use the power of
team training to reach their running goals.
Although
none of the Hansons-Brooks runners were well-known college athletes, through
the group-training program, the team has far exceeded expectations. Including
today’s race, other high-profile Hansons-Brooks ODP successes include
Brian Sell’s third-place finish at the 2007 Olympic Team Trials –
Men’s Marathon, which earned him a spot on the 2008 Olympic Men’s
Marathon team, and his fourth-place finish at the 2006 Boston Marathon, as well
as Trent Briney and Clint Verran’s fourth- and fifth-place finishes at
the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon.
About Brooks
Brooks Sports, Inc. is a leading running company that designs and markets a
line of performance footwear, apparel, and accessories in more than 40
countries worldwide. A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Brooks was
founded in 1914 and is headquartered in Bothell, Wash., near Seattle. The
company’s mission is to inspire everyone to run and be active by creating
innovative gear that keeps them running longer, farther, and faster. Visit www.brooksrunning.com for more information, and follow frequent brand updates on
Twitter (@brooksrunning) and Facebook (Brooks Sports).
About the Hansons-Brooks
Original Distance Project
Brothers
Keith and Kevin Hanson founded the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project
(ODP) in 1999 with the goal to revive American distance running. Recruiting
post-collegiate runners nationwide, the Hansons-Brooks ODP, based in Rochester
Hills, Mich., gives its athletes the rare opportunity to live, work, and run
together in a supportive, training-focused environment founded on team
principals.
About the Bank of
America Chicago Marathon
In its 33rd year
and a member of the World Marathon Majors, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
annually attracts 45,000 participants, including a world class elite field,
world class elite wheelchair field, and 1.7 million spectators. As a result of
its national and international draw, the iconic race assists in raising $10
million for a variety of charitable causes while generating a $150 million
economic impact to its host city. For more information on the race, visit
www.chicagomarathon.com.
