ProRodeo Sports News 2023 Year-End Edition

TIE-DOWN ROPING AVERAGE WINNER

Tie-down roper Haven Meged roped with nothing to lose at the 2023 Wrangler NFR and that mindset vaulted him to his second career average title. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Roseanna Sales

Record NFR BY TANNER BARTH T he 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge was one tie-down roper Haven Meged will never forget. It began on Dec. 6 with his wife Shelby Boisjoli-Meged winning a world championship in the breakaway roping, that momentum carried over into Haven’s 10 rounds in Las Vegas. The Miles City, Mont., cowboy would go on to place in eight out of the 10 rounds at the Thomas & Mack Center, which included an NFR record 6.4-second run to win Round 7. That success parlayed him into the second NFR Average title of his career with a record 77.4 seconds on 10 head. The NFR average record was 80.1 seconds on 10 head by Shane Hanchey in 2013. “It was a great 10 days. I ran some really great calves and my horse worked great,” said Meged, 25. “This was the first big loud building he’s ever been to, and I couldn’t have asked him to do any better honestly. Without him I wouldn’t have this buckle and I wouldn’t have been able to set two records. It’s a huge blessing.”

Throughout the 10 rounds, Meged was a man on a mission. He didn’t clock a single run that was longer than 8.8 seconds. He said even though he found consistency in Las Vegas, that wasn’t his mindset from the outtake. He knew he had to be aggressive if he had any chance of catching Riley Webb in the race for the world championship. “Honestly, I wasn’t even trying to be consistent here,” Meged said. “If I was going to play it safe, I wasn’t going to catch him. So, I tried to blast the barrier every single night and I missed it a couple of nights. I wanted to come in here and no have regrets. I gave it my best effort every single night.” It was a nine-night battle with Riley Webb that they both won’t forget anytime soon. He believes it will be a regular occurrence as their careers continue to unfold over the coming years. “He’s an amazing roper, inside and outside the arena that’s a great kid,” Meged said. “There’s going to be a lot of years competing against that guy because he’s one of the best in the world and he proved that this week. He was consistent the entire time and didn’t stub his toe. I loved competing against him that’s for sure and I look forward to a lot more battles just like that.” Haven Meged captures his second NFR Average title

ProRodeo Sports News 12/22/2023

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