Zias have rough Thursday at CNFR

Staff report

CASPER, Wyo. — Eastern New Mexico University’s women had a rough night in breakaway roping competition on Thursday in the College National Finals Rodeo.

Juniors Keely Weger and Taylor Smith both posted no-times for the Zias. ENMU had the top three finishers in the event in the Southwest Region and none will make Saturday’s short-go finals, although senior TiAda Gray is still in tonight’s third go and could add some points.

“They didn’t draw very good (stock),” ENMU rodeo coach Albert Flinn said of Weger and Smith. “They didn’t draw what they needed to draw to do well. It was just the luck of the draw.

“(Gray) needs to get a 2.3 or 2.4 (time tonight to pull some points), and it depends on what the other girls (competing tonight) do. If she draws the right calf, she’s got a chance to finish (in the top three) in the third round. If anybody can do it, she can.”

ENMU junior Hayden Segulke continues to lead in the average in goat tying and is all but assured of making Saturday’s short go with the third round finishing tonight. She has a time of 19.3 seconds and leads Chadron State’s Shelby Winchell (19.4) and Utah Valley’s Jacalyn Walker (19.8).

Meantime, Weger is currently tied for seventh in goat tying and has a fairly good shot of advancing to the short go, Flinn said. The top 12 in the average move on to Saturday’s finals.

Currently, Chadron State leads women’s team standings with 310 points while the Zias are second at 275. Flinn said there will probably be considerable juggling of positions over the next two days.

ENMU’s lone male competitor, senior Logan Medlin, and partner Billy Bob Thornton of Tarleton State are slated to compete tonight in team roping. Medlin and Thornton, the defending CNFR champions in the event, were in fifth place after the first two rounds.