Carlee Martinez Ropes A Title

Monday, Carlee Martinez was home in George West, Texas, more than 1,100 miles from Las Vegas.

Less than 72 hours later, Martinez was the 19-and-under breakaway roping champ at the YETI Junior National Finals Rodeo in Vegas.

“With everything going on we weren’t sure we would be able to be here, so this is such a blessing,” Martinez said. “I got the OK from the state (of Texas) two mornings ago and we drove straight through to get here. It’s been an adventure, but I’m so humbled to even be here.”

With the recent equine herpes virus outbreak – most prevalent in Texas – Martinez, like a number of other contestants at this year’s Junior NFR and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, had to wait to find out if their horse would be cleared to compete in Vegas. Thankfully for Martinez, the word came Tuesday morning.

“I’m from south Texas so it was a haul,” she said. “We stopped and let my horse out when we could, but it was a solid 48 hours.”

Martinez and Suzie, her 8-year-old black mare, made the trip worth it, though. Martinez won the first go-round with a 2.48-second run, finished third in the second go with a 2.56 and won the average with a three-run time of 8.92 seconds.

“Suzie is a growing process,” Martinez laughed. “But when she wants to do good and she’s trying she’s unbeatable. We’re just trying to get together and be consistent every run. She has a mind of her own and I have to be in tune with her.”

The two were singing a championship tune Thursday at “The Canvas-Covered Castle,” the 62,00-square-foot tent set up outside the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

It was the second national title in less than six months for Martinez, who helped Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) win the women’s team championship at the College National Finals Rodeo in June in Casper, Wyoming. Martinez tied for third in the third go at the CNFR, scoring 55 points for the Bobcats, who finished with 445 points to edge Tarleton State (435) and Gillette College (425) for the program’s first national title.

“Our team was blessed to win the championship,” Martinez admitted. “It was quite an honor.”

Teammates Acey Pinkston, who won barrel racing, and Natalie Ramirez, who scored points in barrels, played a big role in the Bobcats’ championship. Thursday, though, it was just Martinez and Suzie.

It also was the last time Martinez, who turned 20 after the cutoff date, will compete in the Junior NFR.

“I just praise Jesus, my lord and savior, to even be here,” she said. “And my mom and dad that still want to come and support me even though I’m getting old… it’s a great blessing.

“I had a verse in Psalms that says … Those that call on the Lord, and call on Him in truth, and I was praying that I called on him in truth, to bring Him glory, and if there was an interview today I wanted to bring Him glory. That was my goal.”

Jorgia Nixon from Nara Visa, New Mexico, finished second in the average with a three-run time of 9.68 seconds, and Corley Tilson of Covington, Texas, was third with an 18.97. Hadlee Huckabee of De Berry, Texas, had the fastest run of the day, winning the third go with a 1.93-second run.

In the 15-and-under breakaway, Chloe King won the average with a time of 6.43 seconds on two runs. The Sarcoxie, Missouri, cowgirl won the first go with a 3.14, had a no-time in the second go, and finished second in the third go with a 3.29.

Hanyelle Alves of Decatur, Texas, was second with a 14.38 and Sadie Hotzler of Jackson, Minnesota, was third with an 18.00.