A leg injury has forced Desiree Davila to withdraw from the 2013 Boston Marathon.
Race sponsor John Hancock announced Friday that a femoral stress fracture, an injury Davila suffered in the London Olympics, will keep the 2011 Boston runner-up out of the April 15 race.
"Keeping my long-term goals in mind, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the running of the 2013 Boston Marathon," the 29-year-old Davila said in a statement. "At this time it is in my best interest to fully focus on recovering from my injury and gradually rebuilding my fitness. Having a major race scheduled, which I am very passionate about, will only serve to rush the process, and as all marathoners know there are no shortcuts — in training or recovery. I'd like to thank John Hancock for the opportunity and their understanding. I look forward to racing on the roads of Boston again in the future."
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Davila finished the 2011 Boston Marathon in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 38 seconds, the fastest time ever for an American woman in Boston. She did not finish the Olympic marathon after placing second in the trials in Houston with a clocking of 2:25:55.