Utah surged ahead Wednesday on the strength of performances in team roping, barrel racing and boys cutting, taking the lead with 1100 points after the first go-round of the National High School Finals Rodeo.
Chauncey Spencer of Randolph, Utah, and Daniel Fowers of North Ogden, Utah, led in team roping with a time of 7.18 seconds, nearly four seconds ahead of the second place pair from Wyoming.Kara Hadley of Plain City had the barrel racing lead on the third day of the 50th high school finals at 17.276, eight hundredths of a second ahead of Megan McLoed of Star, Idaho.
Luke Denton of Sterling was in a three-way tie for first place in boys cutting with Ryan Hayden of Gillette, Wyo., and Cole Benedict of Temecula, Calif.
South Dakota, tied for second place Tuesday, was breathing down Utah's neck after the first go-round with 1090 points.