ProRodeo Sports News - September 20, 2019

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

Ric Andersen photo Team ropers Spencer Mitchell and Cody Doescher made their first sub-4-second run of the 2019 season in Albuquerque, thanks in part to Doescher’s primary horse, Ginger, returning to competition.

Mitchell said. “I was fortunate that I have a horse I’d rodeoed with off and on before. She (Megan) is great in certain situations where it’s fast like Albuquerque.” The duo has five more rodeos to make up that lost ground before the regular season concludes. “We’re limited to 65 rodeos, so it’s not how hard you can rodeo, it’s choosing the ones that will get you there money-wise and that you feel you will be the most successful at,” Mitchell said. The duo already has plans in place for the 2020 season, as Mitchell’s working on some younger horses that he expects will be competition-ready for next season. Winning Albuquerque pushed Mitchell to 18th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings for team roping heeling, about $8,842 behind 15th. “We’re longshots,” Mitchell said. “For it to work out, we’ll have to go everywhere winning first. If it works, it’ll be a story for the books.” Doescher is sitting at 23rd for team roping heeling with $16,567 separating him from 15th. “It’s not over ’til it’s over, and we just need to keep the ball rolling,” Doescher said. “We’re further out than we would like to be, but you never know. We’re going to try to win first everywhere, that’s what we have to do to have a chance.” Mitchell shared his partner’s optimism. “To make it to the end of the year with a solid rodeo like that is huge mentally and financially for us,” Mitchell said. “We’re in a position where if it works out, it’ll be outstanding, but we have nothing to lose. Hopefully we’ll draw the steers to help us get there.”

Record setter With their 3.7-second run, Spencer Mitchell and Cody Doescher broke the team-roping record in Albuquerque, set last year, by one-tenth of a sec- ond.

Hat Trick

Steer wrestler J.D. Struxness won Albuquerque for the third time, this year with 10.7 seconds on two head. He also won it in 2016 and 2018.

Struxness

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Bradley Harter ......... 86.5 pts. 2. Tegan Smith ...................... 86 3. Delbert Garrett ................ 83.5

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Marcos Costa .. 17.1 sec. on 2 2. Lane Livingston .............. 18.3 3. Ty Harris ......................... 19.0

BARREL RACING 1. Ericka Nelson ........ 14.83 sec. 2. Amberleigh Moore ........ 14.88 3. Dona Kay Rule .............. 14.98

BULL RIDING 1. Denton Fugate ............ 89 pts. 2. Sage Kimzey ...................... 88 3. Two tied at ...................... 85.5

Complete results/Page 68

ProRodeo Sports News 9/20/2019

ProRodeo.com

45