Mesalands’ Blanchard overcomes soreness, wins 1st round barrel racing at college rodeo finals

Blanchard tops barrel racing after 1 round at CNFR

CASPER, Wyo. — Sydni Blanchard of Mesalands College in New Mexico overcame soreness from a hard fall from her horse to win the first round of barrel racing at the College National Finals Rodeo.

Blanchard had a time of 14.46 seconds Monday on a backup horse after she was bucked Sunday from her main mount. She felt numbness in her legs and spent Sunday night in the hospital.

Blanchard plans to ride in the second and third rounds Tuesday.

In team roping, brothers Andrew and Reagan Ward of Western Oklahoma State College won the first round with a time of 5.9 seconds. Last year’s champion, Ryan VonAhn of Southeastern Oklahoma, and his partner finished in a tie for second.

Recent Montana Western graduate Taylor Nahrgang won the first round of steer wrestling with a run of 3.4 seconds.