Blind Grafton Runner Finishes First In California Marathon

GRAFTON, MA — A Grafton runner represented the Bay State at the finish line of a California marathon earlier this month. Chaz Davis finished first in the United States Association for Blind Athletes Championship at the California International Marathon in Sacramento, CA. Davis had a time of 2:43:11.

Davis, who now lives in Boston, ran his debut marathon at the California International Marathon (CIM) in 2016. With a finish time of 2:31:48, Davis set a new American record for the T12/B2 visual impairment category.

“In 2015, I had my first interaction with the blind running community at CIM and I was moved by the motivational stories each runner shared," Davis said, "The support of USABA, Visually Impaired marathon coordinator, Richard Hunter and each runner’s amazing, motivational story is the reason I will continue to come back each year as long as I am able.”

Davis was diagnosed with Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. The rare disease destroys the optic nerve in the eye typically resulting in sudden vision loss, such as in Davis' case.

A career runner and advocate for blind and visually impaired runners, Davis is also a member of Team USA's track and field contingency. He participated in the 2016 Rio games, finishing 8th in the 5000m and 10th in the 1500m events.

In 2018, Davis ran the 122nd Boston Marathon where he finished 5th among 15 notable 2018 Boston Marathon finishers with a time of 2:56:22. Chaz ran as a member of Team With A Vision.

The group raises funds and awareness for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired to promote greater involvement of visually impaired runners in the Boston Marathon.

Davis works for MABVI as an adjustment to vision loss counselor as well as the coordinator for Team With A Vision and United in Stride, a website that matches runners who are blind or visually impaired with sighted guides across North America.