ProRodeo Sports News | 2020 Year-End Edition | Dec.18, 2020

WRANGLER NFR NEWS & NOTES

Jackie Crawford emerged from a tight race to win the inaugural breakaway roping world title.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Joe Duty

Crawford Wins Breakaway Roping

BY PRCA STAFF J ackie Crawford is now part of history. The Stephenville, Texas, cowgirl captured the inaugural Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping world championship at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 10. Thanks to taking care of business the third day of the Wrangler NFBR, Crawford finished atop the world standings with $47,185, narrowly holding off runner-up Martha Angelone, who finished with $45,261. “I don’t even know what my emotions are like right now,” Crawford said. “This is unbelievable. I know that I am not in control of this because this is just way too cool of a ride to be on. It has got to be coming from a higher power, and I hope I can figure out my purpose that God has given me these talents and putting me on this fun ride that I’m on and hopefully that I can fulfill what he has me here for.” The Wrangler NFBR took place Dec. 8-10 in the same arena used for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Cowgirls competed for a record-setting, $200,000 purse at the three-day event. The title was Crawford’s 20thWPRA world championship and third in

breakaway roping to go with the ones she won in 2014 and 2016. She has won WPRA world titles in all-around (2008-11, 2013, 2015-16, 2018-19), team roping heading (2011, 2014, 2016) and tie-down roping (2008-10, 2013-14). Crawford’s latest victory came down to her last run. She posted an 11.8-second time in the final round, which allowed her to finish third and collect $7,258. Couple that with her Round 9 win (2.0 seconds), second-place finish in Round 10 (2.3 seconds) and splitting the win in the eight-woman semifinals (1.8 seconds), and she was a world champ again. Crawford’s latest world championship run is more impressive considering she is six months pregnant. Her husband, team roping header Charly Crawford, was making his 10thWrangler NFR appearance and was planning on retiring after the Wrangler NFR. Charly roped with Logan Medlin. They won Round 8 Dec. 9. “I feel like we are the luckiest people in the world,” Jackie said. “We are truly blessed. I can’t thank everyone behind us: God for giving us our talents and the people who support us are amazing.” Jackie has a stepdaughter, Kaydence, 16. Jackie and Charly also have a son together, Creed, 3. The baby girl, due in March, will be named Journey.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/18/2020

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