By Bryan Painter

The first-round leaderboard at the Timed Event Championship of the World is a lot like Oklahoma weather: There’s a pretty good chance it won’t look the same for very long.

Russell Cardoza of Terrebonne, Ore., and Kyle Lockett of Visalia, Calif., were ninth and 10th respectively after the first run of the 2012 Timed Event at the Lazy E Arena near Guthrie. However, they are now first and second after the first round. Cardoza worked his first five head in 58.6 seconds, while Lockett clocked five runs in 62.2.

At the Timed Event, each of the 20 professional cowboys have to compete in the team roping–heading, tie-down roping, team roping–heeling, steer wrestling and steer roping for five rounds.

The storm of the first round came in steer wrestling, which featured eight broken barriers and six 60-second times, which are given instead of a no-time.

But Cardoza turfed his steer in 6.5 for 39.5 on four to move up to second behind K.C. Jones of Burlington, Wyo., who was 39.2 on four. Lockett stayed off the barrier in steer wrestling and had a solid 11.6 for 47.0 on four.

Cardoza, who is ranked fifth in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association heeling world standings, tied his steer roping draw in 19.1 to lead after the first round with 58.6 on five runs. Lockett, who in 2011 won his second Timed Event title, had a 15.2 in steer roping and is second in the average after the first round with 62.2. In the last four years, Lockett has been no lower than second after the first go.

Jones, who was 12th after the first run of the day, heading, had a 24.1 in the steer roping. With that, the four-time TEC champion is third in the average after the first go with 63.3 on five head.

Jess Tierney of Hermosa, S.D., is fourth with 67.5 and Jim Ross Cooper of Monument, N.M., is fifth at 69.7.

RESULTS

1. Russell Cardoza, 58.6 seconds; 2. Kyle Lockett, 62.2; 3. K.C. Jones, 63.3; 4. Jess Tierney, 67.5; 5. Jim Ross Cooper, 69.7; 6. Josh Peek, 75.1; 7. Scott Snedecor, 78.0; 8. Daniel Green, 78.8; 9. Clayton Hass, 91.3; 10. JoJo LeMond, 106.9; 11. Dean Gorsuch, 107.8; 12. Chad Masters, 112.8; 13. Chance Kelton, 113.3; 14. Paul David Tierney, 113.8; 15. Paul Tierney, 123.8; 16. Jimmie Cooper, 124.5; 17. Bryce Davis, 137.9; 18. Steve Duhon, 151.1; 19. Broc Cresta, 168.7; 20. Landon McClaugherty, 201.6.