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

Two of Eastern Washington's most storied track and field athletes were inducted into the Pasco Invite Hall of Fame on Saturday, cementing their legacies at one of Washington State's premier prep track meets. Rick Riley, the legendary long-distance runner from Ferris High School, and Becca Noble Carson, the dominant sprinter from Rogers High School, were honored during the event's 63rd running at Edgar Brown Stadium.

A 60-Year Record That Won't Fall

Rick Riley's induction came with a remarkable distinction: his 2-mile record from 1964 remains the longest-standing meet record in Pasco Invite history. Running for Ferris, the then-teenager clocked a converted time of 8 minutes, 57.1 seconds in the 2-mile (converted to 3,200 meters), a mark that has survived six decades of competition from some of Washington's finest middle-distance runners.

Now 78 years old and serving as head cross country coach at Saint George's while assisting with track, Riley reflected on his remarkable achievement with characteristic humility. "I just remember it was a real even-paced, relaxed effort," Riley said. "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 attend Washington State University and established himself as one of the state's greatest distance runners of all time. He continues to hold the state meet record in the 3,200 meters at 8:48.3, further cementing his place among Washington's all-time cross country and track elite alongside names like Gerry Lindgren of Rogers.

Carson's Sprinting Excellence Reaches New Heights

Becca Noble Carson earned her hall of fame honor as one of the most dominant sprinters in Rogers High School history. In 2005, the blazing-fast competitor set the Pasco Invite meet record in the 400 meters with a time of 54.14 seconds. That same year, Carson captured state titles in both the 400 and 800 meters, and the year prior, she anchored Rogers' state-winning 4x400 relay.

Carson's success at the high school level proved just the beginning. Following her senior year, she won the 800 at the USA Junior Championships in the summer of 2005. At the University of Oregon, she earned four All-American honors, including an outdoor national championship her freshman year in the 800 meters.

In 2006, Carson represented the United States at the World Junior Championships in Beijing, securing a bronze medal in the 800 with a time of 2:04.72, the country's first medal in that event at the competition. Now residing in White Salmon, Washington, Carson joined her Spokane-based parents for the induction ceremony.

Both honorees exemplify the excellence that continues to define Eastern Washington prep track and field, a region that has produced generations of national-caliber athletes.

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