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

Riley's 60-Year Record Still Standing Strong

Two of Eastern Washington's most dominant track and field athletes were inducted into the Pasco Invite Hall of Fame on Saturday, cementing their legacy in one of the state's most prestigious prep competitions. Rick Riley, the legendary Ferris High School distance runner, and Becca (Noble) Carson, the sprinting sensation from Rogers High School, were honored during the meet's 63rd year at Edgar Brown Stadium.

Riley's achievement is almost incomprehensible in modern sports: his 2-mile record, set 60 years ago at Pasco, still stands as the longest-standing meet record in the competition's history. Running for Ferris, Riley clocked an 8:57.1 in the 2-mile (converted to 3,200 meters), a time that has withstood six decades of attempts by some of Washington's finest distance runners. Now 78 years old and serving as head cross country coach at Saint George's, Riley reflected on his dominance with characteristic humility.

"I just remember it was a real even-paced, relaxed effort," Riley said at the 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 went on to run at Washington State University and remains among the greatest distance runners the state has ever produced. While Rogers' Gerry Lindgren often gets top billing in Spokane long-distance lore, Riley's credentials belong on any Mt. Rushmore of Pacific Northwest running. He also holds the state-meet record in the 2-mile at 8:48.3.

Carson's Elite Career Launched at Rogers

Becca Carson brought a different kind of dominance to the Pasco Invite, setting the meet record in the 400 meters with a sizzling 54.14 in 2005 while competing for Rogers High School. But the speedy sprinter's accomplishments extended far beyond Spokane.

In 2005, Carson captured state titles in both the 400 and 800 meters. A year earlier, she anchored Rogers' state-winning 4x400 relay. Following her senior year in the summer of 2005, she dominated the USA Junior Championships, winning the 800 and establishing herself as one of the nation's elite middle-distance sprinters.

Carson's talent earned her a full ride to the University of Oregon, where she became a four-time All-American. Her freshman year outdoor season included a national championship in the 800. In 2006, she represented the United States at the World Junior Championships in Beijing, earning a bronze medal with a time of 2:04.72 and securing America's first women's 800 medal at that competition.

Carson, who now lives in White Salmon, attended Saturday's ceremony with her parents, who remain in Spokane. Both inductees embodied the excellence that has made Eastern Washington a prep track powerhouse for generations.

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