Segelke maintains lead in average

Staff report

CASPER, Wyo. — Eastern New Mexico University junior Hayden Segelke tied for second in Wednesday’s third round of goat tying competition in the College National Finals Rodeo.

Segelke maintained her lead in the average by one-tenth of a second, with two more nights of competitors left in the third round.

About half of the 50 competitors remain to compete in the third round, ENMU coach Albert Flinn said. The top 12 in average advance to Saturday’s finals.

“She’s going to make the short round (Saturday’s finals),” he said. “She doesn’t have to have the best goat (to win). It’s going to be good watching Saturday night.”

The Zias are currently tied for the top spot in team standings with Chadron State, each with 280 points. Idaho State is third at 230.

Adrianna Assini of Cochise College had the top time on Wednesday at 6.4 seconds, followed by Segelke and Chadron’s Shelby Winchell.

Segelke has a time of 19.3 seconds in the average, followed by Winchell (19.4) and Jacalyn Walker of Utah Valley (19.8).

ENMU junior Keely Weger, who completed her third round on Tuesday, is also hoping to make it to the short go.

The Zias have three competitors in breakaway roping, including Weger and junior Taylor Smith, who compete in the third round tonight, and senior TiAda Gray, who goes on Friday.

Also, senior Logan Medlin and partner Billy Bob Brown of Tarleton State, the defending CNFR champions in team roping, have their third-round outing on Friday. They currently stand fifth after two rounds.

Tennessee-Martin leads men’s standings with 450 points, followed by Blue Mountain Community College at 140.