JoJo LeMOND, Andrews, Texas

JoJo LeMond might just be the smallest man in the field of 20 outstanding competitors. That’s OK, because there’s no way to precisely measure the size of a cowboy’s heart, and LeMond’s is bigger and brighter than nearly any man his size.

Given the challenges faced by the smaller cowboy, LeMond realizes steer wrestling is his Achilles heel. But you won’t see the Texan back down. He’ll reach into every resource possible to try to solidify a qualifying time each run.

Two springs ago, LeMond finished among the top eight in the average, so he knows what it’s like to score a little Timed Event pay in this arena. In addition, he owns both owns records in both heading and heeling – he scored a 4.9-second heeling run in 2009, then posted a 4.5 in heading a year later.

LeMond knows what it means to be fast. He’s qualified three times for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, each time as a header. And because he’s done well in this event, LeMond has found another avenue by which he can win money on the ProRodeo trail – last spring, he won the steer roping and all-around titles in Huntsville, Texas.

Now if he’s just as comfortable this weekend, it should be a whale of a show.