Hall of Fame
The following information was taken from the Hall of Fame program published at the time of induction. Some editing was required:
A two-time captain and four-year veteran of both the indoor and outdoor teams, Neal Hambleton made an immediate impact on the men's track and field program. He was a four-time All-America, a six-time New York State champ, and a 12-time SUNYAC champ. At his first scored collegiate meet, the Jan. 6, 1991 Syracuse Invitational, his third-place finish in the 800 meters qualified him for both the indoor and outdoor states. By the end of his freshman year, he had become the indoor SUNYAC champion in the 800 meters, the outdoor champion in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, and one-fourth of the 4x400 meter relay outdoor championship quartet. Fredonia State won both SUNYAC titles that year -- as they did every season Mr. Hambleton competed. During his tenure, the Blue Devils also won three indoor and two outdoor New York State championships. As a freshman, he became the first Fredonia State intermediate hurdler to win All-America honors, when he finished seventh in the nation. Over the course of the next three years, he collected nine additional SUNYAC titles, six NYS championship crowns, and three more national awards in the 400 intermediate hurdles, making him the first athlete in the history of Fredonia State sports to earn All-America honors for four consecutive years. His 52.34 in the 400 intermediate hurdles ran in May 1993 at the national championship meet set a school record. Mr. Hambleton earned dual bachelor degrees -- in Math and Physics -- before adding a bachelor's in Mechanical Engineer in 1996 from Clemson University. He was working as an engineer and product manager at Anspach in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., at the time of his induction.
