Laney Hoier, Erika Cruikshank and Hailey O'Daniel all earned top-15 performance finishes during their first runs at the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) on Sunday and Monday.
Competing in Rock Springs, Wyo., Hoier — a Herman cowgirl — earned second during her Monday rodeo performance in the goat-tying event. She clocked in at 7.77 seconds, earning runner-up honors ahead of 24 other cowgirls from across the country who completed their ties.
Hoier was also set to compete in Tuesday morning's breakaway roping at the Sweetwater Events Complex, but did not record a time, according to results posted to nhsra.com.
Cruikshank, meanwhile, made her NHSFR debut Sunday in the barrel racing, taking 10th out of 34 timed riders. She and her horse completed their run in 18.276 seconds — just 0.124 faster than O'Daniel, who finished 15th.
The Arlington High School student-athletes were also set to compete in Tuesday's pole bending. O'Daniel finished 18th out of 33 during the performance, clocking in at 22.035 seconds. Cruikshank, meanwhile, did not record a time.
The NHSFR continues through the short go-round finals on Saturday night. Before then, Cruikshank and O'Daniel were to complete pole bending runs on Thursday night before Saturday morning barrel racing attempts.
Hoier, meanwhile, was schedule for a breakaway-roping attempt Thursday night before a Friday night goat-tying run with a chance to reach the finals.
Fort Calhoun marksman Morgan Shaner was scheduled to participate in the NHSFR trap shoot Thursday, too. He'd advance to today's finals with a good enough tally.
Final results for all four competitors will appear in next Tuesday's Washington County Pilot-Tribune and next week's Arlington Citizen editions.
