Kara Goucher And Desiree Davila Running 2011 Boston Marathon
By David MontiDecember 14, 2010
(c) 2010 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
(14-Dec) -- Starved of an American champion since Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach in 1985, organizers of the Boston Marathon announced today that Kara
Goucher and Desiree Davila would be their best hopes for breaking that
streak in 2011. The #3 and #4 American women of all-time, with career
best times of 2:25:53 and 2:26:20, respectively, have committed to the
115th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 18.
"Kara, Desiree and other elite runners every year provide the millions
of spectators and viewers with a thrilling race," commented Jim Boyle,
president of John Hancock Financial Services, the long-time sponsor of
the race's elite fields. "Marathoning is a global sport, but the
growing prominence of U.S. runners among the world's elite is a terrific
development for fans and for the sport."
Goucher, 32, who lives in Portland, Ore., will be running Boston for the
second time, and will be running her first marathon since giving birth
to her first child, son Colt, last September. In Boston in 2009,
Goucher was still in the hunt for victory with just 800m to go, but
faded in the final sprint against Kenyan Salina Kosgei and Ethiopian
Dire Tune. She finished third in 2:32:25, just nine seconds behind the
champion, Kosgei.
"I'm excited to be invited back on the John Hancock elite team," said
Goucher who holds the USA marathon debut record of 2:25:53 set at the
2008 ING New York City Marathon. "The 2009 Boston Marathon stands as
the highlight of my career. I wished that I could have won, but I did
the best I could and Boston embraced me for that."
Davila, 27, made her marathon debut in Boston in 2007. Battling the
strong winds and rain from a Nor'easter so strong that organizers almost
cancelled the race, Davila finished 18th in the all-women's
professional race, clocking a modest 2:44:56. Since then, the former
Arizona State All-American, who lives in Rochester Hills, Mich., has
improved dramatically under the coaching of Keith and Kevin Hanson. She
had a breakthrough performance at the 2009 IAAF World Championships,
finishing 11th (one place behind Goucher) in 2:27:53. She bypassed the
USA Women's Marathon Championship race in New York last November, and
instead ran the Bank of America Chicago Marathon where she could focus
more easily on achieving a fast time. She was rewarded with a 2:26:20,
fourth place, finish.
"The biggest thing I was able to take away from Chicago and the World
Championships is confidence," said Davila, who represented the United
States at the IAAF World Indoor Championships last March. "Everything
we are doing at Hansons is about progression. I've learned how to
prepare for the marathon; how to race the distance. I've gotten faster
and more competitive up front each time out."
The Boston Marathon, founded and organized by the Boston Athletic
Association, is the oldest marathon in the United States. With 22,540
finishers last April, it was America's third largest marathon in 2010
behind the ING New York City (44,829) and Bank of America Chicago
(36,159) marathons. Along with the commercial marathons in Berlin,
Chicago, London and New York, plus the IAAF World Championships and
Olympic Games, the Boston Marathon is part of the World Marathon Majors,
the premiere series of marathons on the world.
On the boards: Desi will kick Kara's butt this April
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