Desiree Davila's race at the 2011 Boston Marathon, where she was second in 2:22:38, is considered one of the best efforts ever by an American marathoner. Photo: www.photorun.net
Desiree Davila’s race at the 2011 Boston Marathon, where she was second in 2:22:38, is considered one of the best efforts ever by an American marathoner. Photo: www.photorun.net
One of Davila’s first international races was the 2006 world championship 20K race in Hungary, where she finished 43rd in 1:11:56. Photo: www.photorun.net
Davila joined the Hansons-Brooks training team after a solid career at Arizona State. She made her marathon debut at the 2007 Boston Marathon (19th, 2:44:56) and returned the following spring to run in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon (13th, 2:37:50). Photo: www.photorun.net
Davila was a bit of a marathon newbie at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston, but she competed well and finished 13th in 2:37:50. Photo: www.photorun.net
One of the races that put Davila on the map was the 2009 IAAF World Championships marathon in Berlin, where she finished 11th in 2:27:54. Photo: www.photorun.net
Davila, shadowed here by posters of Liliya Shobuhova and Sammy Wanjiru, had a breakout race at the 2010 Chicago Marathon, finishing fourth and dropping 90 seconds off her PR with a 2:26:20 effort. Photo: www.photorun.net
Davila had a breakthrough race at the 2010 Chicago Marathon, finishing second in 2:26:20. Photo: www.photorun.net
Davila ran one of the best races of her career at the 2011 Boston Marathon, finishing second to Kenyan Caroline Kilel. Photo: www.photorun.net
At the 2011 Boston Marathon, Davila traded the lead with Kenyan Caroline Kilel over the last few miles but eventually finished second in 2:22:38 — the fastest time ever run at Boston by an American woman. Photo: www.photorun.net
Although she doesn’t race on the track very often, Davila has had some success on the oval, including setting her 5,000-meter PR of 15:08.64 while finishing fourth behind eventual winner Lauren Fleshman at a 2011 Diamond League meet in London. Photo: www.photorun.net
Davila was one of the early leaders at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in Houston. Photo: www.photorun.net
Davila finished second in what was perhaps the most exciting women’s U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon race ever. Shalane Flanagan (center) won the race, Kara Goucher (rear) was third and Amy Hastings, a teammate of Davila’s at Arizona State, was fourth. Photo: www.photorun.net
Davila poses with the American flag after qualifying for the 2012 Olympic team. Photo: www.photorun.net
Davila’s 2012 season had highs and lows. The high point was making the London squad, but the low point was dropping out of the marathon at the Games because of a hip injury. Photo: www.photorun.net
While preparing for the 2012 Olympic marathon, Davila ran the B.A.A. 5K (10th, 16:03) during Boston Marathon weekend. Photo: www.photorun.net
Brooks made a special Olympic shoe for Davila after she made the London team. The custom Brooks T7 Racers had a red, white and blue, stars-and-stripes theme with “Desi 2012” emblazoned across the lateral side of the heel and a motivational message (“I’m Ready”) inspired by her fiancée inscribed on the inside of the shoe. Photo: Courtesy of Brooks
Davila placed ninth in an international field at the 2012 NYC Half Marathon. Photo: www.photorun.net
In 2012, Davila participated in a kids race in Times Square before the IAAF Diamond League meet in New York City. Photo: www.photorun.net
After being hampered by a hip injury for most of 2012, American marathon runner Desiree Davila is healthy again and primed to race the Berlin Marathon on Sept. 29. She finished second in last year’s Olympic Trials Marathon, but the injury forced her to drop out of the Olympic marathon before the 5K point. Davila, who turned 30 this summer, raced the New York Mini 10K in June and placed sixth and then took second in the U.S. half marathon championships (1:11:25) later in the month. Here’s a quick look at her career highlights.
