Rodeo Daily

The American Timed Events: Will 2023 Champs Defend Their Titles or Will Contenders Reign Supreme?

The field is set for the 2024 American Rodeo, and the competition is fierce. Two 2023 Champions are returning for the second year in a row to defend their title, but first, they will have to battle their way through the intense field of contenders and fellow invitees.
Kaitlyn Woodman|
PRCA photo by Click Thompson

One year ago, the American Rodeo crowned the first set of Champions to win the title in Globe Life Field. The rodeo’s inaugural year held in the Texas Rangers home went off without a hitch, and the day was packed full of intense rodeo action. Only two of the 2023 timed event champions will return for a chance to defend their title, but those two are some of the biggest names in rodeo, and they are as good as they’ve ever been. 

In the barrel racing, the times were fast, and the competition was stacked. Lisa Lockhart, WPRA's all-time career earnings leader, qualified back to the championship round in the No. 4 spot and was able to secure the win in the clean slate finals. Lockhart was aboard Promise Me Fame Guys, a 2016 gelding by Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, and this was her third championship at the American Rodeo. 

Lockhart's previous championships were won in 2014 and 2015 aboard her legendary gelding, “Louie,” and Promise Me Fame Guys or “Levee” is quickly proving to be another once-in-a-lifetime horse. Coming off of a Super Series win in Houston, you can bet that whether Lockart is riding Levee or her beloved mare Rosas Cantina CC, she will have her sights on another back-to-back championship in Arlington. 

The steer wrestling brought lightning-fast times, with a 3.19-second run winning the 10-man round. Five-time world champion and reining champion, Tyler Waguespack, also fought his way from the No. 4 qualifying spot to the championship, just edging out second place by 6-hundredths of a second.

Waguespack is no stranger to the winner's circle with lifetime earnings exceeding the $2 million mark and he knows what it takes to get to the championship round at the American. After his World Championship in 2023, he gained an invitation back to defend his title and he will be gunning for no less than first place when it's all said and done.

Although the contenders and other invitees outnumber the field of returning champions, the two that we will see are sure to put up a fight. Great things can be expected on Saturday, and the newly crowned champions are sure to be singing "Congratulations" all the way to the bank.

The American Rodeo’s 2023 Timed Event Champions

Tyler Waguespack - Steer Wrestling - Competing in 2024

Ty Harris - Tie-down Roping - Not Competing

Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira - Team Roping- Not Competing

Jackie Crawford - Breakaway - Not Competing

Lisa Lockhart - Barrel Racing - Competing 

Published
Kaitlyn Woodman
KAITLYN WOODMAN

Kaitlyn grew up in a small east Texas town called Marshall, Texas, and now resides in the “Cutting Horse Capital of the World” Weatherford. The rodeo lifestyle was instilled into Kaitlyn at a young age as her entire family has a rodeo background. She spent most of her life at Martha and RE Josey’s ranch just down the road from her house.  Kaitlyn was lucky enough to have been surrounded by incredible role models in and out of the arena that got her to where she is today both as a competitor and a person. As a barrel racer, Kaitlyn has competed at just about every level the sport offers. The barrel racing industry is something that she is deeply passionate about, whether it be the futurity and derby scene, the rodeo world, or even the breeding side, she finds herself excited to learn new things and grow the industry as much as she possibly can. Kaitlyn graduated from Sul Ross State University in December of 2023 with a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture degree and knew that upon graduation she wanted to get a start in the western sports media industry. Before graduating from Sul Ross, Kaitlyn was able to start a career as an Equine Insurance Agent and takes pride in protecting her customer’s most valuable assets. Kaitlyn is excited to share her passion for the Western Sports and Agriculture industries through her writing, and she strives to reach audiences far beyond our community to advocate for the betterment of our lifestyle!

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