Heather Hart of Western Montana had a 7.7-second clocking in goat tying Monday to pull her team into a tie for the women's lead following the first day of the College National Finals Rodeo.
Hart's first-place finish gave the Western women 120 points and a tie with Weber State, which got its share of the lead from Amee Roundy, who won breakaway roping with a time of 2.7 seconds.In third place among the women was Eastern New Mexico with 90 points, followed by Fresno State and Idaho State with 60 each and Cochise College with 30.
Utah Valley Community College and Southwestern Oklahoma State were tied for the men's team lead with 120 points, each with a first-place performance.
Roy Brown of Utah Valley won calf roping with a time of 8.9 seconds, while the Southwestern team roping duo of Mark Gomes and Scott Mullen won its specialty in 6.4 seconds.
Other first go-round winners on Monday included Heather O'Neal of Eastern Wyoming in barrel racing with a 15.43-second run, and James Parker of Tennessee-Martin and Rance Burnett of Panhandle State, who tied in steer wrestling at 5.1 seconds.
The first go-round of the rodeo was completed Monday in all the timed events, while the riding events begin Tuesday.
The second go-round in all events will run through Saturday evening. The rodeo concludes Sunday, featuring the top 10 competitors in all nine events competing in a championship go-round.