FIRST GO-ROUND CONCLUDES WITH ELITE YOUTH TALENTS TAKING HOME TOP HONORS

The evening of Tuesday, July 8 marked the halfway point of the 33rd annual International Finals Youth Rodeo (IFYR), showcasing some of the brightest youth rodeo talent in the country.

When the dust settled, Hailey Beal (Blackwell, Texas) posted the fastest barrel racing time of the week so far with an impressive 16.094-second run, earning top honors as the first-go and Performance 5 champion.

Golden State cowgirl Jaycee McGill (Sanger, Calif.) turned in the fastest pole bending time of the week, stopping the clock in 20.121 seconds and taking home the first-go Montana Silversmiths buckle.

Tennessee cowgirl Neely Clendenin (Paris, Tenn.) became the first competitor of the week to break the two-second mark in breakaway roping, earning top honors with a blazing 1.9-second run.

In goat tying, Lone Star State cowgirl Addi Carney (Crockett, Texas) shared the top spot with fellow Texan and go-round co-champion Alli Autrey (Anson, Texas), each turning in a thrilling 7.6-second run.

Austin Brooks (Baker, Fla.) shook up the steer wrestling standings with a lightning-fast 4.0-second run, securing the top spot in both the round and Performance 5.

The calf roping leaderboard saw several standout runs, but it was Rendon Powledge (Grandview, Texas) who bested the field with a sharp 8.2-second performance to earn the coveted go-round title.

In saddle bronc riding, Cajun cowboy Wyatt Lavergne (Sulphur, La.) delivered a standout 79.5-point ride, earning the first-go title and prize money.

Bull rider Wyatt Nuce (Gustine, Texas) earned the top position with an impressive 85.5-point ride.

Bareback rider Westeren Chandler (Iredell, Texas) topped the leaderboard in Performance 5 with a strong 77.0-point ride.

In team roping, Oklahoma duo Colton Thomason (Henryetta) and Braxton Ogle (McLoud) turned heads with a blazing 4.5-second run to win the round.

Rodeo action continues with Performance 6 at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center and runs through the evening of July 11.A full list of results can be found HERE.