Spokane Track Legends Rick Riley and Becca Carson Immortalized at Pasco Invite Hall of Fame

Two of Spokane's greatest track and field athletes were honored Saturday at Edgar Brown Stadium during the 63rd running of the Pasco Invite, one of Washington's most prestigious prep track competitions. Rick Riley and Becca (Noble) Carson, both Spokane legends from different eras, were inducted into the Pasco Invite Hall of Fame in a ceremony that celebrated six decades of excellence in Pacific Northwest running.

Riley's Historic 60-Year Record Stands Unchallenged

Rick Riley, now 78 and serving as head cross country coach at Saint George's, etched his name into Spokane track history in 1964 when he was running for Ferris High School. Running on hardened clay at the Pasco Invite, Riley set the 2-mile record with a time of 9:00.1, which converts to an 8:57.1 in the modern 3,200-meter format. Six decades later, that record remains the longest-standing meet record at the Pasco Invite, a testament to its dominion over the event.

"I just remember it was a real even-paced, relaxed effort," Riley recalled at Saturday's ceremony. "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's legacy extends beyond a single record. The Washington State University graduate stands among the elite distance runners the state has ever produced, a distinction shared by Rogers' legendary Gerry Lindgren. Riley continues to hold the state meet record in the 2-mile at 8:48.3, proof that his dominance spanned multiple competitions and years. His humility about the honor was evident, but so was his pride in a record that has withstood assault from countless talented runners for generations.

Carson Blazes New Trail at Rogers and Beyond

Becca (Noble) Carson represented a different era of Spokane excellence when she dominated the sprints and middle distances at Rogers High School in the early 2000s. In 2005, the year she set the Pasco Invite 400-meter record at 54.14, Carson claimed state titles in both the 400 and 800 meters. A year earlier, she anchored Rogers' state-winning 4x400 relay team.

Carson's achievements extended far beyond Washington's borders. That same summer of 2005, she won the 800 at the USA Junior Championships, establishing herself as one of the nation's top middle distance runners. Her recruitment to the University of Oregon proved prescient, as Carson became a four-time All-American and claimed an outdoor national championship in the 800 as a freshman. In 2006, she earned a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in Beijing, running 2:04.72 to secure America's first women's 800 medal at that competition.

Both Riley and Carson represent the caliber of talent that continues to make Washington high school track and field a breeding ground for national and international excellence.

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