The Hartford men's and women's cross country teams are looking to bring home the conference title this weekend when they head off to Stony Brook, N.Y., to take part in the America East Cross Country Championships. The women's race starts on Saturday at 10 a.m. with the men's race set to begin at 11 a.m.
 
"We've got a lot of work cut out for us this weekend, but the kids have had a really good fall," head coach Roger Busch said. "They have worked harder than they've ever worked."
 
This will be a special meet for senior Chaz Davis, who plans to compete this weekend for the Hawks for the first time since his freshman year. Davis is legally blind, stemming from Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a genetic disease that destroys the optic nerve in the eye. He will run with the help of a teammate Kyle Hamel, who will act as his spotter.
 
Over the summer, Davis won gold at the U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championship and also placed second overall in the 2015 Toronto Parapan American Games 5,000-meter race. Head coach Roger Busch is proud of what Davis has been able to overcome.
 
"He's been a great inspiration to the guys and the girls on the team," Busch said. "It's exciting for him; he hasn't competed since his freshman year. Cross country courses can be dangerous, but his fellow seniors have been great in training and steering him to make sure he's safe. Kyle (Hamel) has stepped up; they're roommates and teammates. He'll have to exercise some self-control in a race environment as he takes care of Chaz on the course."
 
One of the top Hawks runners, senior Chris Helminski, will return to action after missing several meets with a hamstring injury. Helminski has competed in just two meets this season, but led the men's team in both competitions, netting the best time among the Hartford squad.
 
In addition to Davis and Helminski, Nick Ackley, Zach Drown, Tim Fitzgerald, Aedan Hale, Kyle Hamel, Evan Jaworski, Rourk Marlow, and Willy Pierce will compete for Hartford.
 
"Chris has been running well," Busch said. "There's still a lot to come from him, he's done a good job. He's had an excellent summer of training. He's been an excellent model for everyone on the team about getting a little bit better each time out."
 
Sara Buckley has been a standout performer for the Hawks women's runners this season, placing in the top 10 in three of her five meets, including a number one overall placing at the Trinity College Invitational.  She logged her career-best 5k America East Championship time as a freshman, posting an 18:26.40 finish.
 
Others running for the Hawks are Kaeli Baker, Rachel Brown, Melissa Cumming, Ellie Donlon, Courtney Hackman, Amanda Hamel, Georgette Price, Carly Schuyler, Allie Tedeschi, and Julianna Wesley.
 
"Sara had a really good summer of training, which brought her to be our front runner," Busch said. "She's hoping to end on a high note, and we'll go as far as she goes."
 
This will be the second trip to the course for the Hawks this year, as both the men's and women's squads placed fifth to open the season at the Stony Brook Pre-Conference Meet in September.
 
The event will be streamed live on AmericaEast.TV, with Jon Versteeg calling the action. More information can be found at the America East Championship Central.