Ray Norton

Event: Sprints

Inducted to Hall of Fame: 1996

Ray won the first two 100y/100m titles at the Relays in 1959 and 1960 and ran on victorious relay teams as well. He captured the NCAA 200m title for San Jose State in 1959. In 1959 and 1960, he was a U.S. National Championship double winner at both 100m and 200m.

Ray equaled the World Record of 9.3 for 100 yards in 1958 and again in 1960. In 1959, he equaled the World Record of 10.1 for 100m.

In 1960, he tied the 200m World Record of 20.6 twice. Later that year, after the World Record was lowered to 20.5 by a European competitor, Ray equaled that time as well.

Ray had an unfortunate experience at the 1960 Olympics. It appears that he peaked too soon, as three of the four world records he broke or tied that year were set in March and April. It seemed that he had gained redemption when the 4X100m relay team of which he was a member finished first. However, the team was disqualified for passing out of the exchange zone.

Born: 1937

College: San Jose State

• 1959: 100y, 1st, 9.5
• 1960: 100m, 1st, 10.2
  
  Relays:
• 1959: 440y, 1st, 40.4
  

• PRs:
  • 100y: 9.3
  • 100m: 10.1
  • 220y: 20.1 (20.0w)
  • 200m: 20.5
• Broke/tied World Record 6 times:
  • 100y
  • 1958: 9.3
  • 1960: 9.3
  • 100m
  • 1959: 10.1
  • 200m
  • 1960: 20.6
  • 1960: 20.6
  • 1960: 20.5
• Olympic 6th place finisher, 1960:
  • 100m: 10.50
  • 200m: 21.09
• U.S. National 100m Champion:
  • 1959: 10.5
  • 1960: 10.5
• U.S. National 200m Champion:
  • 1959: 20.8
  • 1960: 20.8
• NCAA Champion, 1959
  • 200y: 20.9
• Pan-Am Champion, 1959
  • 100m: 10.3w
  • 200m: 20.6