San Antonio Rodeo Field Becomes Clearer After Uvalde Qualifier

The San Antonio Rodeo qualifier in Uvalde took place over the weekend as athletes fought for their spot in one of the richest rodeos of the season.

The San Antonio Rodeo qualifier was held in Uvalde, Texas, from Jan. 8-13, with the final performances taking place over the weekend. This is the second time the qualifier has been held at the arena in Uvalde. 

The top 10 athletes in each competition booked their ticket to the San Antonio Rodeo to join the top 35 athletes who already qualified based on last season's standings as well as the current top 5 athletes in the world. 

In Uvalde, over 50 athletes entered into each rough stock event, 100 tie-down ropers and steer wrestlers fought for one of those 10 spots, and over 208 barrel racers competed for the shot to run in San Antonio. 

However, it wasn't just about qualifying for San Antonio. Uvalde had over $235,000 on the table that the competitors fought to earn to add to their early season earnings.

Here is a look at the top two and average champions in each event:

Bareback Riding           

1. Jade Taton, $1,003
2. Kade Berry/Cole Hollen, $877
3. Kade Berry, 169.5, $1,003 (average)

Steer Wrestling

1. Cody Cabral, $1,693
2. Boyd Sawyer, $1,693
3. Laramie Warren, 9.6s, $2,539 (average)

Team Roping

1. Manny Egusquiza/Evan Arnold, $2,622
2. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, $2,622
3. JR Gonzalez/James Arviso, 10.4s, $3,933 (average)

Saddle Bronc Riding

1. Jesse Wright, $1,355
2. Keene Justesen, $1,355
3. Keene Justesen, 165, $1,355 (average)

Tie-Down Roping

1. Carsyn Sunvison, $2,173
2. Reid Zapalac, $2,173
3. Cole Walker, 16.2s, $3,260 (average)

Barrel Racing

1. Katie Halbert, $4,819
2. Jymmy Cox, $2,040
3. Katie Halbert, 30.32s, $4,819 (average)

Bull Riding

1. Jeter Lawrence, $1,592
2. Justin Houston, $1,737
3. Scott Wells, 164.5, $1,592 (average)

In addition to the well-run rodeo, the board of Uvalde also visited a local library on Saturday morning ahead of the performance. There, the board showcased horses and the lifestyle to children and provided an opportunity for the kids to interact with the equines. 

This type of outreach is instrumental in helping preserve and ultimately grow the way of life and the sport. Making this lifestyle accessible is a key tenant for Uvalde's board.

With the qualifier now behind us, all eyes will be turned towards the San Antonio Rodeo, where the best 50 athletes in each competition will go head to head for a piece of the $1.5 million at stake. 

San Antonio will run Feb. 8-24. For more information, visit sarodeo.com.