Spokane Legends Becca Carson and Rick Riley Inducted into Pasco Invite Hall of Fame

Riley's 60-Year Record Still Standing

Rick Riley has waited six decades to see his name cemented in track and field history, and on Saturday at Edgar Brown Stadium, the honor finally arrived. The legendary Ferris High School distance runner was inducted into the Pasco Invite Hall of Fame during the event's 63rd meet, joining an elite group of athletes who have left an indelible mark on Washington State prep track.

Riley set the 2-mile record at Pasco 60 years ago with a converted time of 8 minutes, 57.1 seconds, a mark that has never been broken despite countless elite runners attempting to surpass it. The longest-standing meet record in Pasco Invite history belongs to a now 78-year-old who ran on hardened clay tracks and cinder surfaces, a stark contrast to the modern synthetic tracks of today.

"I've jokingly said that if I had the tracks and the shoes the kids are using today, that record would last 100 years," Riley said during the ceremony. "It's amazing that it's stood this long."

Riley, who went on to run at Washington State University, remains one of the greatest distance runners the state has ever produced. He currently serves as head cross country coach at Saint George's and as an assistant track coach, continuing to shape the next generation of runners. His state meet record of 8:48.3 in the 3,200 meters also still stands, a testament to his dominance on the distance running circuit.

Carson Dominated the Middle Distances for Rogers

Joining Riley in Saturday's induction ceremony was Becca (Noble) Carson, a sprinting sensation who terrorized opponents on the Rogers High School oval in the early 2000s. Carson set the Pasco Invite meet record in the 400 meters with a time of 54.14 in 2005, a performance that foreshadowed her brilliant career.

In 2005 alone, Carson captured state titles in both the 400 and 800 meters while anchoring the state-winning 4x400 relay the previous year. Her talent transcended high school competition, earning her a spot at the University of Oregon where she became a four-time All-American and won an outdoor national championship in the 800 as a freshman.

Following her high school career, Carson won the 800 at the USA Junior Championships and earned a bronze medal at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing with a time of 2:04.72. She lives in White Salmon, Washington, and was joined at the induction by her parents at the ceremony.

Both Riley and Carson represent the pinnacle of Washington State high school track and field excellence, inspiring current athletes to chase records and championships.

This article was created with AI assistance. Stats and results sourced from public records.