Rick Riley to Join Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame
The longtime Spokane distance coach will be honored during an induction ceremony at the Spokane Arena on October 21.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Running
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Longtime distance runner and coach Rick Riley will be inducted into the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame on October 21, 2026. The ceremony, held at the Spokane Arena, recognizes Riley for his six decades of contributions to the region's distance running history.
Why it matters
Riley is being honored for his extensive legacy in the sport, which spans from his record-setting competitive career to his success as a high school coach. His career highlights reflect a significant era in the evolution of distance running within Spokane.
Riley set a national two-mile record of 8:48.3 in 1966 and became the first Spokane runner to break the 4-minute mile barrier in 1970. His coached athletes have since secured 28 individual state championship titles.
The players
Rick Riley
He is a longtime distance runner and coach who has influenced the Spokane running community for over 60 years.
Gerry Lindgren
He is a renowned distance runner who held a national high school mile record of 4 minutes 6 seconds.
Jeff Brown
He is one of the fellow inductees being honored alongside Riley in the class of 2026.
Jared Lawrence
He is an athlete being recognized for his sports contributions as a fellow inductee.
Pat Tyson
He is a coach and athlete who is also joining the hall of fame in the upcoming ceremony.
The details
Riley, who has served as a distance coach at Saint George's School since 2009, joins Jeff Brown, Jared Lawrence, Ken Pelo, and Pat Tyson in the upcoming induction class. Throughout his career, he famously defeated Gerry Lindgren in a 1967 mile race with a time of 4:11.6.
Timeline
May 1964: Gerry Lindgren set a national high school mile record.
1966: Rick Riley set a national two-mile record of 8:48.3.
1967: Rick Riley defeated Gerry Lindgren in a mile race.
1970: Rick Riley became the first Spokane runner to run a sub-4 minute mile.
October 21, 2026: The Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place at the Spokane Arena.
The Big Picture
The recognition of Riley's career highlights the continued development of local distance running excellence since the 1964 national high school mile record. This induction marks a formalization of his long-term impact on the regional athletic trajectory.
The ceremony at the Spokane Arena serves as a culminating event for the 2026 regional sports calendar, bringing together coaches and athletes across multiple disciplines. Fans and local participants can anticipate the official recognition of these figures to finalize the current hall of fame election cycle.
The takeaway
Riley's induction demonstrates how sustained coaching involvement can shape local sports history over decades. Residents interested in the sport can learn from his transition from a record-setting competitor to a long-term mentor for student athletes.
Further reading
For more news on regional athletics, visit Spokane Running.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Spokesman Review.
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