Two former SunTrust Richmond Marathon women's champions ran well, but not well enough, in yesterday's U.S. Olympic women's marathon trials in Boston.

Former Atlee High School and Roanoke College sensation Casey Smith, the winner of the 2007 SunTrust women's race, placed 24th overall in 2:40:53. Strong though her effort was -- she shaved more than four minutes from the time that won in Richmond last November -- Smith fell eight minutes short of the top-three finish needed for Olympic qualification.

Maureen Ackerly, who won the local race in 2006 and finished second last year, placed 74th yesterday in 2:47:04 -- more than six minutes faster than her winning time in Richmond.

Former William and Mary distance-running standout Cheryl Anderson, now a student at the VCU School of Medicine, earned a 32nd-place finish with a time of 2:41:45.

U.S. women's record-holder Deena Kastor erased an early deficit of nearly two minutes to win the 26.2-mile race in 2:29:35. Kastor, from Mammoth Lakes, Calif., overtook Magdalena Lewy Boulet (Oakland, Calif.) 15 minutes from the finish and won by 44 seconds. A third Californian, Blake Russell of Oakland, snatched the last spot in the U.S. Olympic lineup by finishing third in 2:32.40.

The course covered portions -- notably the start and finish -- of the legendary route that will be used for today's 112th running of the Boston Marathon.

Four other Virginia athletes finished yesterday's race: Samia Akbar (Herndon), 18th in 2:39:19; Dana Coons (Charlottesville), 30th in 2:41:31; Renee High (Virginia Beach) 81st in 2:48:26; Briana Whaley (Culpeper), 93rd in 2:49:32. -- Vic Dorr Jr.