Keith Norward, Class of 1981

Keith Norward was a standout athlete at Hamburg where he played football and competed in Track and Field. He was a versatile track star, who not only competed in the high hurdles, but also ran anchor on the sprint relay team. Keith said some of his greatest memories at HHS included winning the Section VI Sectionals and qualifying for the Indoor State Meet his first year, and breaking his own school records his senior year and qualifying for the State meet in both Indoor and Outdoor track. Keith held the Hamburg High School record in the 110m high hurdles from 1981 until 2007 with a time of 14.44. In 2007, his son Jamal broke his record with a time of 14.36. That record still stands today. Keith was the Section VI record holder for the 55m high hurdles and the Section VI outdoor track record holder in the 110m high hurdles. He served as Team Captain on the 1981 ECIC Champion Indoor Track Team and also received Hamburg’s Art Howe Award for Outstanding Athlete. Upon graduating from Hamburg High School, Keith went to SUNY Fredonia, where he was a four-year letterman in Track. Keith was undefeated in high hurdles in both SUNYAC and NYST&FA in 1983, 1984 and 1985 and went on to be a six-time SUNYAC high hurdles and six-time NYST&FA high hurdles champion. Keith holds two SUNYAC records, two SUNY Fredonia records and two NYST&FA records. He was named NCAA-All American in 1985, and in 1992 was inducted into the SUNY Fredonia Athletic Hall of Fame.