Desiree Davila, member of the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project (ODP), an elite running group sponsored by Brooks® Sports (www.brooksrunning.com), 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.