Yoder’s Thompson wins all-around title at finals

CASPER – The College National Finals Rodeo marked an end to the 2022-23 rodeo season for two area competitors.

Eastern Wyoming College’s Karissa Rayhill competed in barrel racing and goat tying.

Rayhill placed in the top eight in her three go-rounds. She finished tied for eighth in 6.2 seconds in the first round and tied for third in 6.0 seconds in both the second and third rounds.

With an average of 18.2 on three, she qualified for Saturday’s championship round. She ended the weekend 11th in the short-go in 8.1 seconds. For the weekend, Rayhill tied for ninth in the average with a time of 26.3 seconds.

In barrel racing, Rayhill produced faster times with each run. Her first run, she stopped the clock in 14.62 seconds, placing her 22nd. Her second run was in 14.54 seconds to finish 20th. Her final run was in 14.49 seconds to place 24th. Rayhill finished 21st in the weekend average in 43.65 seconds.

Yoder’s Haiden Thompson also qualified for the CNFR for Gillette College.

The freshman made the short-go in both her events – goat tying and breakaway roping.

Thompson finished sixth in the average in goat tying with times of 5.9, 6.6, 6.2 and 6.8 for a weekend total of 25.5 seconds. Thompson was eighth in Saturday’s championship round.

In breakaway roping, she had times of 2.9, 2.1 and 3.0 seconds in the three go-rounds. In the short-go, Thompson recorded a no time. She finished the weekend in 10th in the average in 8.0 seconds.

Thompson brought home the female all-around championship, scoring 180 points and rookie of the year honors in both goat tying and breakaway roping.