TORONTO – Less than two months after he claimed the gold medal at the U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championship, University of Hartford track and field team member Chaz Davis tore up the track yet again. This time, the rising senior turned in an impressive performance at the 2015 Toronto Parapan American Games, as he was the second-best finisher in the event's 5,000-meter race.

In the 5,000-meter race on Tuesday, Davis covered the track in 15:48.87, marking a personal-best finish for the runner. Brazil's Jacques Ortega claimed gold in the event with a time of 15:42.78.

Davis began losing his central vision in his right eye during his freshman season and following the end of the semester, he was diagnosed with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a rare genetic disease that destroys the optic nerve. He resumed collegiate competition last December, and has since competed in the 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter events.

The Parapan American Games were held from August 7-15 in Toronto. Approximately 1,600 athletes from 28 countries competed in 15 sports, all of which will be qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Last June, Davis became the national champion in the 5,000-meter run at the U.S. Paralympics Track and Field Championships held at Hamline University's Robert and Alexandra Klas Center in St. Paul, Minn. His gold-medal, 5,000-meter time of 16:09.71 was 52 seconds better than the next finisher, who clocked-in at 17:02.71. A native of Grafton, Mass., Davis' ultimate goal is to qualify for the 5,000-meter race in the Paralympics in Brazil next year.