DENVER, Colo. (January 12, 2023) — With just over a week remaining of the National Western Stock Show presented by Centura Health, rodeo contestants are making their way to the Mile High City to compete.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) athletes’ competition got underway at the Denver Coliseum on Thursday. This year’s competition is a tournament style with contestants getting two opportunities in the preliminary rounds. The contestants are divided into 8 groups. Their scores and times will be added together with the best from each pool advancing to the semifinals on Saturday, January 21, where they will be vying for a spot in the finals on Sunday, January 22.
Lukasey Morris from Union City, Okla., put himself in great position to advance during the first performance. The bull rider took the lead in the first round with an 85-point effort on Cerrvi Brothers Rodeo’s Keep Talkin. All Morris needs is a score on Friday to assure himself another trip back to compete in the Denver Coliseum.
Morris qualified for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo lNFR) last December, but injuries had a big impact on him the 2022 season. He broke his leg over the Fourth of July in Livingston, Montana. He returned to action in August at San Juan Capistrano, California, came off his bull and was knocked unconscious and suffered a punctured lung. He started the NFR healthy but had a concussion and had to sit out again.
He has dreamed of riding bulls for most of his life and started riding sheep at the age of four. He is hoping to get back to Las Vegas to compete again in 2023, stay healthy and get some big wins by his name. That could all start here.
There are two performances in the Denver Coliseum on Friday. The matinee will finish the first group of contestant’s preliminary competition. The evening performance will see new contestants trying to add their names to the leaderboard. Rodeo action gets underway at 1:30 and 7:30.
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DENVER, Colo. — The following are results from the PRCA and WPRA rodeo at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo, Thursday, January 12, 2023.
Bareback Riding: 1, Yance Day, Mannford, Okla., 87.5 poing on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Wyatt Earp. 2, Dean Thompson, Altamont, Utah, 84.5. 3, Luke Barlow Thrash, Bastrop, La., 83.5.. 4/5, Jess Pope, Waverly, Kan., and Will Lowe, Amarillo, Texas, 80.5.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Kyler Dick Oakley, Utah, 3.8 seconds. 2, Hoyt Kraeger, Weeping Water, Neb., 7.0. 3, Stan Branco, Chowchilla, Calif., 10.4. 4, Avery Jamerman, Torrington, Wyo., 13.8.
Team Roping: 1, Ty Arnold, Midway, Texas, and Kaden Michael Profili, Jacksonville, Texas, 4.6 seconds. 2, Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah and Jeremy Buhler, Arrowwood, Alberta, 4.7. 3, Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala., and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont., 4.9. 4, Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn., and Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 6.6.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., 83.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s 2 Week Notice. 2, (tie) Leon Fountain, Socorro, N.M., and Tanner Butner, Daniel, Wyo., 81.5. 4, Ross Griffin, Tularosa, N.M., 80.5.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Preston Pederson, Hermiston, Ore., 8.6 seconds. 2, Beau Cooper, Stettler, Alberta, 8.7. 3, Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 11.1. 4, Jack Tyner, Alvord, Texas, 16.1.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Jamie Olsen, Brock, Texas, 15.18 seconds. 2, Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, Idaho, 15.34. 3, Abby Phillips, Marshall, Texas, 15.42. 4, Kelcey McNamee, Nunn, Colo., 15.45.
Bull Riding: 1, Lukasey Morris, Union City, Okla., 85 points on Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s Keep Talkin. 2, Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah, 83. 3, Dalan Duncan, Heber City, Utah, 82.5. 4, Braden Richardson, Jasper, Texas, 82.
PROVIDED COURTESY OF SUSAN KANODE & NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW & RODEO FOR TENN TEXAS MEDIA
