Spokane Legends Rick Riley and Becca Noble Carson Enshrined in Pasco Invite Hall of Fame

Two of Eastern Washington's most dominant track and field athletes were honored Saturday at Edgar Brown Stadium when Rick Riley and Becca (Noble) Carson were inducted into the Pasco Invite Hall of Fame during the meet's 63rd running. The recognition caps legendary careers that have defined Spokane prep athletics for generations.

Rick Riley's Unbreakable 60-Year Record

Rick Riley's dominance as a distance runner at Ferris High School remains virtually untouchable six decades later. The now 78-year-old Riley set the 2-mile record at Pasco in 1964 with a converted time of 8 minutes, 57.1 seconds, a mark that still stands as the longest-standing meet record in the Pasco Invite's history. Riley, who went on to run at Washington State University, continues to hold the state meet record at 8:48.3 in the 3,200 meters.

Named among the greatest long-distance runners the state has ever produced, Riley competed on hardened clay tracks far different from the modern surfaces today's athletes enjoy. "I've jokily said that if I had the tracks and the shoes the kids are using today, that record would last 100 years," Riley reflected at Saturday's ceremony. The legendary runner, now head cross country coach at Saint George's School, expressed humble pride in an achievement that has withstood countless challenges from outstanding athletes across six decades.

Becca Carson's Sprint to National Stardom

Becca (Noble) Carson blazed through Rogers High School as one of the nation's elite middle-distance sprinters. At the 2005 Pasco Invite, she set the meet record in the 400 meters with a time of 54.14 seconds, cementing her status among the best sprinters in Washington State history.

That same year, Carson captured state titles in both the 400 and 800 meters, adding to her impressive resume that included anchoring Rogers' state-winning 4x400 relay the previous year. Following her high school career, Carson won gold at the USA Junior Championships in the 800 meters during the summer of 2005, establishing herself as one of the top middle-distance runners in the nation.

At the University of Oregon, Carson became a four-time All-American, including an outdoor national championship in the 800 her freshman year. She earned a bronze medal at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, clocking 2:04.72 in the 800 and securing the United States' first medal in the women's 800 at that competition. Now living in White Salmon, Washington, Carson joined her parents in Spokane for Saturday's induction ceremony.

Both Riley and Carson represent the rich tradition of excellence that continues to define Eastern Washington track and field.

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