Southeastern Winter Run Concludes Leaving Top Contenders in the Hot Seat

A great deal of the larger Southeastern Circuit rodeos take place in the early months of the season, especially the Florida winter rodeos. With those rodeos in the rearview, take a look at who’s sitting in the No. 1 spot in the circuit standings moving forward.

2021 Southeastern Circuit Tie-Down Roping Champion, Macon Murphy. / Courtesy RodeoHouston

As rodeo athletes travel west to begin the annual “California run”, many have spent part of their winter in sunny Florida at the Southeastern Circuit rodeos. With large payouts throughout the winter, the circuit standings are packed with the best athletes east of the Mississippi River. 

Some will travel across the country for the remainder of the season with their sights set on the NFR, and some will stay centralized to the circuit rodeos, chasing a Circuit Championship. Take a look at who’s in the top spot moving forward with the 2024 rodeo season. 

First-time NFR qualifier in 2023, Marcus Theriot, leads not only the all-around for the Southeastern Circuit but also for the World Standings. Theriot competes in the team Roping and tie-down roping and sits at No. 2 and No. 12 in his events, respectively. The Lumberton, Miss., cowboy has just over $20,000 in circuit earnings thus far. 

In the bareback riding, Cajun cowboy Taylor Broussard leads the pack coming off of his Southeastern Circuit Finals win back in November. Top finishes like his No. 2 placing in Kissimmee, Fla., helped boost him into the hot seat with fellow Louisiana native Waylon Bourgeois on his heels. 

Kyle Irwin, of Robertsdale, Ala., leads the steer wrestling and sits No. 15 in the World Standings race. Winning second at Montgomery, Ala., and taking the win at Homestead, Fla., have padded his lead in the circuit and position in the World Standings in hopes of making yet another appearance at the Thomas and Mack. 

Lacey Nail of Williston, Fla., leads the charge in the breakaway roping with just over $7,000 in circuit earnings. At just 20 years old, Nail has won Winter rodeos like Bonifay, Fla., Okeechobee, Fla., and split the win with Audra Flamm in Barstow, Fla., over the recent weekend to extend her lead in the standings. 

Isaac Richard of Eunice, La. leads the saddle bronc riding with an impressive $8,000 lead. Richard boasts $17,780 in earnings thus far after wins in Davie, Fla., Lake Charles, La., Lafayette, La., and many other top finishes.

Bradley Massey and Zack Mabry lead the team roping with $17,218 won each. After winning North Fort Meyers, Fla., placing at Jackson, Miss., and a No. 2 finish in Homestead, Fla., they have a nice $4,000 lead on their fellow competitors. Both are multiple-time Circuit Finals qualifiers and they sit just outside of the Top 15 in the World Standings race.

Leading the tie-down roping is yet another Louisiana Cowboy, Ike Fontenot. As a strong contender in the all-around as well, Fontenot has won rodeos in both the tie-down and team roping events and has even claimed a few all-around titles here and there. Fontenot has strong competitors on his trail yet holds the lead with $13,635 in earnings. 

Kristin Hanchey dominates the circuit barrel racing year after year and is nearly always at the top of the leaderboard when the dust settles. She sits in the No. 1 position thus far with $14,238 in earnings. The Okeechobee, Fla., mom, wife, and horse trainer is most recently known to jockey her 2022 Old Fort Days Super Derby Champion mare, “Smooth Way Ta Heaven'' aka Mouse but can show up on anything and rise to the top. 

After a recent return to the PRCA from injury and the PBR tours, Clayton Sellars of Wildwood, Fla., leads the bull riding circuit standings and sits at No. 2 in the World. The three-time NFR qualifier has had a stellar beginning to the 2024 season and a triumphant return to the PRCA ranks as he chases another NFR qualification and eventually the coveted World Championship.

For complete circuit standings, visit the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.