As a senior on the LSU track and field team, Pete Coley is trying to do his best in his last few meets as a Tiger.
Coley said he has been running track since age 10. He attended high school at Munro College, the same high school of former Tigers Claston Bernard and Lueroy Colquhoun.
At LSU, Coley has won national championships in the 2003 outdoor 4×400-meter and 4×100-meter relays as well as the 4×100 indoor national championship relay and the 2002 4×100 outdoor national championship. He is also an eight-time All-American.
Coley’s best outdoor times are a 46.12 in the 400 at the Gatorade Classic, a 3:03.22 in the 4×400 with teammates Kelly Willie, Austin Benton and Bennie Brazell at the Texas Relays, and a 38.93 in the 4×100 with teammates Willie, Marvin Stevenson and Brazell.
Coley’s best indoor times are a 21.5 in the 200 at the Armory Invitational, a 46.35 in the 400 at the Arkansas Invitational, and a 3:03.97 in the 4×400 with teammates Robert Parham, Brazell and Willie.
Coach Pat Henry said Coley is performing well.
“[Pete]’s doing real well right now,” Henry said. “He’s coming along real well. He’s starting to make some big gains for himself right now, and I think this weekend was significant for him. He is the second fastest collegiate to ever run the indoor 400 meters so he’s got a a lot of talent and he’s starting to come around.”
Coley said he is trying to get better.
“I’ve had two really good performances and I would like to keep improving on that, try to better my time that I did before,” Coley said.
Henry said Coley should be able to run a good time in his 400-meter races.
“I think he’s a 44-second guy, low 44 seconds,” Henry said. “I think he’s got the potential to do that and if he thinks he can, then he can.”
Henry said Coley has been progressing well.
“This year is significantly better than last year,” Henry said. “He looks better this year.”
Coley also said he is happy with his progression.
“I have to be happy because every time I go onto the track I keep on improving,” Coley said.
Coley said he expects to be able to win both the 4×100-meter relay and the 4×400-meter relay.
“Being a senior, this is my last year at LSU so I want to win both relays, 4×1 and 4×4,” Coley said.