John Hancock Announces Elite Athlete Desiree Davila has withdrawn from 2013 Boston Marathon due to injury

BOSTON, MA, December 28, 2012 - Desiree Davila, a member of the 2013 John Hancock Elite Boston Marathon Team has withdrawn from the upcoming April 15 race due to a slow-healing femoral stress fracture of the right leg. The injury occurred shortly before the 2012 London Olympic Marathon this past August. Although her recovery is taking longer than expected, Davila said she is making progress and looks forward to competing in future Boston Marathons.

"Keeping my long term goals in mind, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the running of the 2013 Boston Marathon," said Davila. "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."

Davila placed second at the 2011 Boston Marathon and set a new American course record of 2:22:38. She then qualified for the 2012 London Olympics with a second place finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials

The 2013 Boston Marathon marks the 28th year of John Hancock's landmark sponsorship of the legendary race. For additional information about the elite athlete program and sponsorship, please visit www.johnhancock.com/bostonmarathon/index.html or follow us@jhboston26 on Twitter.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation
John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. In 2012, John Hancock celebrates 150 years of serving clients across the United States, while Manulife celebrates its 125th anniversary. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, Manulife Financial Corporation offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$515 billion (US$523 billion) as at September 30, 2012. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at manulife.com. 

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including life insurance, annuities, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k) plans,long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com, and on Facebook,Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube.

DAVILA OUT OF BOSTON MARATHON
By David Monti
(c) 2012 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission.

(28-Dec) -- Olympic marathoner Desiree Davila has withdrawn from the 2013 Boston Marathon, organizers said today.

Davila, 29, from Rochester Hills, Mich., has been dealing with a "slow-healing femoral stress fracture of the right leg," according to a joint statement released by the Boston Athletic Association, which owns and manages the race, and John Hancock Financial, which funds the elite field.  This is the same injury which forced Davila to drop out of the London Olympic Marathon before the 5-K mark in her first Olympic appearance.

"Keeping my long term goals in mind, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the running of the 2013 Boston Marathon," Davila said through a prepared 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."

Davila earned her Olympic Team berth at last January's USA Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston where she finished second to Shalane Flanagan (Kara Goucher was third).  Boston organizers had recruited the entire team shortly after the Trials; Flanagan and Goucher remain in the race.

A member of the Brooks Hansons team, Davila is the fastest American ever at the Boston Marathon where she clocked 2:22:38 to finish second in 2011.

"I'd like to thank John Hancock for the opportunity and their understanding," Davila concluded.  "I look forward to racing on the roads of Boston again in the future."

PHOTO: Desiree Davila finishing second in the 2011 Boston Marathon (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

ENDS