ENMU women finish third in CNFR; Dora's Walker third in tie-down

There was a palpable feeling of what could have been with a few more ropes catching and a few less barrels falling.

But, a few days after the Eastern New Mexico University’s women’s rodeo team finished third in the College National Finals Rodeo, the feeling of what did happen was pretty good.

“For the girls to finish as regional champions, and take third in nationals two years in a row,” coach Albert Flinn said, “that’s pretty phenomenal in itself.”

The ENMU squad ended the rodeo with 350 points, well ahead of Central Arizona (285.8) and behind national champion Blue Mountain Community College (517.5) and McNeese State (420).

That finish came despite ENMU only advancing one of its four athletes to the final round. Kortney Cleveland, a senior vrom Murrieta, California, finished sixth in Saturday’s short go at the Casper Events Center with a time of 13.99 seconds.

But ENMU got the bulk of its points from senior Hayden Todd, who was hurt by a pair of no-scores in both goat tying and barrel racing but still finished as reserve all-around women’s champion. Todd scored 265 points in the all-around category to finish behind McNeese State’s Kristin Smith.

Teams that qualify for the CNFR bring four athletes.

“I’m really proud of those two girls,” Flinn said of Cleveland and Todd, “and the other girls who didn’t place, they’re the ones who helped us win the region. Our breakaway roper just didn’t draw very good calves.”

In the men’s rodeo, there was a local third place in the form of Western Texas College freshman Joshua Walker. The Dora native finished seventh in the Saturday short go for tie-down roping at 11.7 seconds. But his average, including a first-place finish in the opening round, was third overall.

Walker was ninth overall in the Southwest Region, but was added to the WTC team and performed well with his second opportunity.

“My coach took a chance on me, and he beleived in me,” Walker said. “I’m ready to compete at that level, and I’m excited to go back. It really wasn’t that big of a deal whether I was sitting in first or ninth. We’ve just got to do our job, no matter where we’re sitting.”

Tarleton State, paced by all-around winner Landon Williams with 445 points, scored 915 points to claim the men’s title.