Desiree Davila Places Second At Naples Half

Last month’s winner of the Emerald Nut’s Midnight Run said she came to the race for the competition.

Although Ethiopian Gebre Belainesh ultimately won the Naples Half Marathon in Florida on Sunday, Hanson-Brooks-sponsored runner Desiree Davila ran a solid race, placing second in 1:10:33. Davila’s time was a full minute faster than the previous  course record. A native of Rochester, Minnesota, Davila said she was racing in Naples because of the top competition.

“I think it’s good,” Davila said of the race. “It shows the quality of the event. To have such quality athletes run here and have a sub-1:10 break the record, it shows it’s a solid event.” She was awarded $1200 for her second-place showing.

Belainesh’s winning time was 1:09:57.

“It’s a good, fast course, so I’m happy,” Belainesh recalled afterwards. “I knew the record, and I pushed myself to beat it.” The 22-year-old Ethiopian lives year-round in Flagstaff, Arizona. This year marks the third-straight year that an Ethiopian has won the Naples Half Marathon.

For More: Naples News.com