LUBBOCK — The South Plains College women's rodeo team increased their lead in the Southwest Region on Saturday, placing first overall at the Texas Tech University Rodeo in their final outing of the fall season. The Lady Texans added 240 points to their season total and currently sit atop the region with 900 points. Sul Ross and Eastern New Mexico tied for second Saturday with 190 points, with Texas Tech placing third with 160 points.
"I thought we had a solid weekend overall and did some good things in the finals tonight," South Plains head coach Kerry Doster said. "Elle and Clara did a great job and put together a strong outing this weekend and have been big for us over the past few weeks. Elle is a gamer, and when she gets to a rodeo she's all business. She's been great so far this season and we hope she can continue to improve throughout the rest of the year."
Freshman Elle Eagles was the top point scorer for the Lady Texans over the weekend, placing second in goat tying and fourth in barrel racing. Eagles ran a 6.7 in the long round and posted a 6.6 in the short round to finish with a 13.3 average in goat tying, picking up 135 points. After running a 15.91 in the long round of the barrel racing event, Eagles clocked a 15.59 in the short round to cap the event with a 31.50 average and 65 points.
South Plains' Clara Barrington picked up a crucial 40 points with a ninth-place finish for the Lady Texans in barrel racing, posting a time of 15.75 in the short round before running a 21.08 in the finals to finish with a 36.83 average and 40 points.
The Texans placed 10th on the weekend with 40 points with Tarleton State taking first with 820 points, followed by Clarendon College with 535 points, and Sul Ross with 425 points. The Texans' Clay Guthrie was the lone point scorer in steer wrestling, running the second-fastest time in the long round with a 4.1, before recording a no time in the finals, tacking on 40 points for South Plains.
South Plains will return to the arena February Feb. 20-22 at the Odessa College Rodeo, followed by a trip to Sweetwater for the Ranger College Rodeo March 26-28.