The Central Methodist University rodeo team is holding strong at seventh place in the Ozark Region after three competitions in its first season.
After a strong outing in the Missouri Valley College rodeo, barrel racer Kelsi Haller improved her position with a second-place finish in the short round at the University of West Alabama with a time of 15.89 seconds. She began the competition with a 15.9 in the long go on her horse, Ruby, along with teammate Alena Brach Miller, who scored a 17.0 with her horse, Dapper.
The team went from two competitors to four in the most recent competition, October 3-5 at Three Rivers College. Abbi Perry and Mackenzie Gass each made their season debuts in the long go, riding their horses Pete and Speedy for times of 25.56 and 19.12, respectively.
Haller again led the Eagles and gained points with a third-place finish in the average after running a 16.79 for third in the long go and a 16.98 for fifth in the short. Miller turned in a respectable time of 18.6 in the long go.
With Haller’s 285 points through the first three competitions of the season, the “fierce” little team of riders is in a good position in the region with seven rodeos to go until the end of the season.
“I am beyond proud of these girls,” said rodeo coach Amanda Phipps. “They have worked day in and day out at the practice pen.”
Also working hard to add to the team’s success is Tristan Riggs, who Phipps believes will make his first calf roping appearance in November’s rodeo at Murray State University.
“We are blessed to have such great team members,” said Phipps. “I can’t stop smiling, I am so proud of them all!”
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