Two sets of team ropers post 3.9-second runs at NFR

Luke Brown and Jake Long made their first victory lap of the 2018 Wrangler NFR.

Derrick Begay and Cory Petska took their second.

Both sets of team ropers stopped the clock in 3.9 seconds to split the round, as all four ropers walked away with $23,481.

Team roping heeler Long liked his effort throughout the Finals, until Tuesday night. He got over that feeling quickly Wednesday.

“I felt really good until last night,” Long said. “I was pretty frustrated all day. It never feels good to drop the ball. It feels good to bounce back tonight, come through and finish the round.”

Team roping header Brown said he made an adjustment to help the team.

“My horse is a little bit too quick,” he said. “So, I asked Jake to haze him a little bit. That gets you off on the left fence and you lose momentum sometimes. But it’s a safer bet on making the steer heel, so we went with that and it worked out.”

Begay and Petska got to enjoy their second win. The two have won $71,135 each through seven days of the rodeo.

“We had an amazing steer and my partner did an amazing job tonight,” said heeler Petska. “I’m just excited to have this opportunity again.”

Header Begay is trying to make sure he and Petska continue to do what’s working.

“I’ve been roping my whole life, so you just have to trust what you do every day, not really think about it too much, and go through the motions,” Begay said. “It’s about muscle memory and using your brain.”

Clay Smith and Paul Eaves continue to lead the tie-down roping world standings with $197,127.