Pete Close

Pete Close’s best finish at a national meet was runner-up in the 1959 NCAA mile (behind Jim Grelle). He was third in the 1960 Olympic Trials 1,500 metres, behind Grelle and Dyrol Burleson. Close attended St. John’s University and later competed for the New York AC. While at St. John’s he won the IC4A mile title in 1958-59. He served with the Marines from 1959-62, after graduating from St. John’s, and after leaving the Marines, he retired from competition.

Close became a sports information director at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) from 1962-76. He then became a track coach at Tufts University.

Personal Bests: 880y – 1:50.0 (1961); 1500 – 3:42.7 (1960); Mile – 4:05.5 (1961).