SPRINGFIELD, ILL. - Kaylee Nelson of Midland finished second in the breakaway roping at Wednesday morning's performance at the National High School Finals Rodeo at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
South Dakota now has two cowgirls in the mix in the breakaway as Nelson moved into second place in the overall standings. TiAda Gray of Lovington, N.M. is the current leader with Jordan Murray of Isabel in third at the end of the first go-round.
Gray also leads the rookie all-around cowgirl competition.
Murray took the lead in the cowgirl all-around with 350 points. She is 80 points ahead of second place Amanda King of Dayville, Ore.
Murray finished fourth in the goat tying to go along with her third place in the breakaway roping.
Troy Crowser of Whitewood is sixth in the boys all-around with Merrit Smith of Gillette in seventh.
In the overall team standings Texas sits in first with Utah second followed by California, Idaho and New Mexico. Wyoming is in ninth place overall while South Dakota is 13th.
Utah leads the boys team standings with California leading the girls division.
Wyoming is 15th in the boys and South Dakota is 17th.
Wyoming holds down a fifth place showing in the girls standings with South Dakota in the top ten at seventh place.
South Dakota's That's Shur Fine was named the Girl's American Quarter Horse Association Horse of the Year.
There will be two performances today, Friday and Saturday with the finals slated to begin at 6 p.m. MT.
