by Dave McCauley, RunMichigan.com

Houston, Texas -- Desiree Davila of the Rochester Hills based Hansons-Brooks Distance Project running team finished in second place overall today at the 2012 US Olympic Trials Women's Marathon, held in Houston, Texas. Davila's time for the 26.2 mile race was 2 hours, 25 minutes and 55 seconds, 17 seconds back from the overall winner, Shalane Flanagan of Portland, Oregon.

The 28 year-old Davila was close to the top throughout the race, hanging tight with Flanagan and Kara Goucher, also of Portland, and Amy Hastings of Mammoth Lakes, CA. Desi was one of this year's marathon trials favorites after her amazing runner-up finish at the 2011 Boston Marathon. Davila finished that Boston race in 2:22:38.

Davila was concerned early on in today's race that the pace might be a bit slow, possibly giving other runners more of a chance to ease up near the front.

"The game plan was not to let it (the race) get soft and let other people who didn't necessarily belong there, be there late." She said. Davila made a decision to do all she could to push the pace and move away from the rest of the field, giving her the best chance to end up with one of the coveted top three spots.

This bold decision may have cost her a chance at the overall victory, though.

"I did the job I needed to do and I think it cost me late." However, for Davila, what was most important was to finish in the top three and make the team. "I didn't really have enough confidence in being able to catch Shalane (Flanagan) and in making another surge. I didn't want to lose the spot I had." Davila commented.

In the end, Davila did what she needed to do and will be traveling to London for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Other top Michigan finishers included Dot McMahan, also of the Hansons-Brooks team, who finished in ninth place overall in a time of 2:32:16, Katie McGregor (Former University of Michigan standout) who took 11th in 2:34:01 and Melissa Johnson-White (Hansons-Brooks) who ended up 13th with a time of 2:34:33.

In the men's race, Meb Keflezighi (Mammoth Lakes, CA) was the overall winner in a time of 2:09:08. Former Rockford High School great Dathan Ritzenhein, narrowly missed out on an olympic spot, coming in fourth place and will be an alternate for the 2012 US team. Ritzenhein was a member of the 2008 US Olympic team.

More RunMichigan.com coverage, including photos, interviews and updates on other Michigan runners who competed at the 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon will be available on our 2012 Olympic Trials coverage page.