WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - We had a chance to catch up with Chaz Davis, former University of Hartford cross country/track & field member, before he departed for Houston, Texas, in prepartion for the upcoming 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. A distance runner, Davis will be competing in both the 1,500 and 5,000-meter events this month.



Davis is one of 26 athletes representing Team USA in track and field at the 2016 Paralympic Games. He earned his spot on the team after taking top-billing in the 5,000-meter run at the U.S. Paralympic Track and Field Trials in Charlotte, N.C. Posting a time of 15:25.32, the native of Grafton, Mass., also won his section of the 1,500-meter run after clocking in at 4:05.90.

After losing his vision as a freshman due to a rare disease called Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a disease that destroys the eye's optic nerve, Davis made his return to the track for the 2015 America East Indoor Track and Field Championships. He ran his fastest 3,000-meter race, finishing in 9:02.35. 

Last fall, Davis competed in his first cross country event, completing the 8K course in 27:04.26 for 59th place. He was the third Hawk to cross the finish line in the event. Last May, Davis concluded his collegiate career with a standout performance in the 5,000-meters at the New England Championships. He took eighth in the race, finishing in a time of 14:48.61. Davis graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in May with a degree in criminal justice.