LAS VEGAS – Anybody that’s been to this desert city understands that three days in Las Vegas can be really long.
That’s been the case for team roping header Coleman Proctor. After placing in the opening two rounds, he and his partner, Logan Medlin, experienced a three-day drought of reaching the pay window at the National Finals Rodeo. That stretch included no-times in Rounds 3 and 5 and a seventh-place finish on the fourth night – only the top six in a round earn money.
Proctor and Medlin found a few drops of water during Tuesday’s sixth go-round, stopping the clock in 4.0 seconds to finish in a tie for sixth place worth $2,717. It increased his NFR earnings to $47,000; he sits sixth in the heading world standings with $202,738.
“It’s good to be back winning, even if it was only $2,700,” said Proctor of Pryor, Oklahoma.
Money is the name of the game in the City of Lights, and it’s not just at the casinos. This is rodeo’s richest rodeo and a chance at big things over 10 days. Proctor and Medlin have earned less money by winning rodeos across the country in their chase to qualify for the NFR.
Expectations are high, but professional athletes understand the stakes. Their Tuesday time would have won the fourth round and helped them finish higher in the money in most rounds. As the second team competing, they took a quick lead, then watched as five teams posted runs of 3.8 seconds or better.
The NFR is a championship event in every sense of the word. It’s world-class competition on the sport’s biggest stage, with only 15 teams competing each of the 10 days. Only one team has had times in all six rounds, because strange things happen in the Thomas & Mack Center.
“I’m just really grateful to be here,” Proctor said. “This is an amazing experience that we get to do. You have to tip your hat to the competition. It was such a great night for team roping, one of those nights when it’s fun to watch and tough to beat.”
He remains in the hunt for two world championships in the heading and all-around races. He is third in the all-around behind tie-down roper Shad Mayfield and heeler Junior Nogueira, but there are four rounds remaining in the season.
Anything can happen at the NFR, which is another reason why Proctor is continuing to push the envelope.