UWs Short Go Contenders Come Up Short at CNFRs Third Round

Two University of Wyoming men’s rodeo team members were sitting high and in contention for short go bids at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper after two rounds. The third was not kind to the Cowboy pair Tuesday night.

Both Cam Jensen and Donny Proffit were ranked in the top nine in their respective events after the second round and needed just qualified rides/runs to be among the week’s top 12 to advance to the championship round at the Ford Wyoming Center. It did not happen.

Jensen, of Hyannis, Neb., entered the start of the third go round sitting sixth in the steer wrestling average. His third-round steer broke quickly out of the box and never let up. Halfway down the arena, Jensen and his hazer, teammate Chadron Coffield, had to play catch up the rest of the way. Jensen tried to catch up to the steer as it circled back the opposite way, but the Cowboy competitor never made it.

He recorded times of 6.7 and 5.8 seconds in his first two rounds.

As for Proffit, the probability of reaching Saturday’s short go more than likely ended when he was bucked off 3.4 seconds into his bareback bronc ride on hard-bucking Golden Girl, a horse known for getting riders high scores -- if they can complete the 8-second ride.

The Kemmerer junior was coming off the second round’s second-best mark of 79.5 points earlier in the day in the second slack session. He entered the third round with 151 points on two, good for ninth in the average and a great shot at making the short go.

Golden Girl was not about to give in. Once the bronc broke out of the chute, Proffit spurred high on the horse’s neck. But, from there, the UW Cowboy -- who was second in the bareback riding standings in the region this past season -- could not regain control and was immediately tossed onto the arena dirt.

Four UW teammates will compete during tonight’s (Wednesday) performance, with two goat tying Cowgirls still in contention to move into Saturday’s short go.

Kelsey Lensegrav, from Interior, S.D., and Faith Hoffman, of Kiowa, Colo., are within striking distance of gaining one of 12 spots reserved for competitors in all events. Both Coffield, from Yuma, Colo., and Taylour Latham, of Lapoint, Utah, are playing out their week in tie down roping and goat tying, respectively.