Nichole Lake of Polson may have some time to make up in barrel racing, but she’s definitely contending in her other events —  goat tying and breakaway roping — after the first go Thursday at the Montana High School Rodeo Finals at Majestic Valley Arena.

The 17-year-old senior to be had the fifth-best time (8.46 seconds) in goat tying and was ninth in breakaway roping (3.19).

Her barrel racing go (18.30), however, has her well down the line in the  26th spot.

“Did decent,” Lake said.

“I had a solid day. It set me up for the average.”

She entered this competition maxed out in points (70) for goat tying during the regular season along with six others. She was tied for 11th in barrel racing (65 points).

Lake competed in the National High School Finals Rodeo in breakaway roping last year.

Lyndi Anderson of Billings leads the goat tying (8.18) while Mikayla Fuller of Bozeman    (2.51) had the best effort in breakaway roping.

Seven cowgirls broke the 18-second barrier in barrel racing with Laramie Noble of Shepherd (17.68) leading the way. Taylour Russell of Conrad was a close second (17.69).

Celie Salmond of Choteau is off to a spectacular start, leading pole bending (20.5), third in breakaway roping (2.72), fourth in goat tying (8.44) and first in team roping with Helena’s Matt Lesofski (7.78).

Wrye Williams of Broadus had the top time (10.09) in tie-down roping.  

Kalispell’s Heidi Schmid had a strong outing in pole bending (21.14). That was the fourth-best time of the day.

While Thursday was limited to the timed events, full rodeo action gets under way today with sessions at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Saturday has two performances also, 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The top 16 in all events advance to the short-go championship round on Sunday at 11 a.m.

The top four from the short-go qualify for the National High Finals Rodeo in Rocky Springs, Wyoming, July12-18.

Montana High School Rodeo Finals

Thursday

At Majestic Valley Arena

Pole Bending

Celie Salmond, Choteau    20.50

Danelle Toren, Sun River    20.79

Caydee Johnson, Manhattan    21.11

Heidi Schmid, Kalispell    21.14

Taylour Russell, Conrad    21.17

Madison Waters, Malta    21.43

Callie Otoupalik, Arlee    21.55

Molly Salmond, Choteau    21.56

Martje-Jane Plaggemeyer, Big Timber    21.59

Morgan Link, Billings    21.60

Goat Tying

Lyndi Anderson, Billings    8.18

Hailey Garrison, Glen    8.28

Caydee Johnson, Manhattan    8.43

Celie Salmond, Choteau    8.44

Nichole Lake, Poslon    8.46

LaTasha Wieferich, Sidney    8.59

Jalisa Klassen, Powell    8.71

Ouana Harkins, Billings    8.75

Madison Brenner, Gallatin Gateway    8.78

Darby Yeager, Choteau    8.06

Tie-Down Roping

Wrye Williams, Broadus    10.09

Trevin Baumann, Hardin    12.48

Haven Meged, Miles City    13.13

James Ramirez, Bozemank    14.46

Danny Hildebrand, Joliet    14.53

Tele Seemann, Polson15.26

Caden Camp, Belgrade    15.65

Cyris Robertson, Whitehall    17.80

Albert Koenig, Belgrade    18.21

Jack Pederson, Victor    19.03

Team Roping

Matt Lesofski/Celie Salmond    7.78

Caleb Guardipee/Will Powell    8.06

Brenna Krueger/Madison Waters    8.42

Laramie Noble/Lawson McGill    9.10

Garrett Duncan/Madison Sorden    13.55

Tucker Harmon/Wrye Williams    13.69

Opal Harkins/Ouana Harkins, 14.27

Tyler Robinson/Bryce Bott    15.10

Haven Meged/Tate Rhoads    16.75

Wyatt Griffith/Garrett Welch    17.02

Breakaway Roping

Mikayla Fuller, Bozeman    2.51

Shelby Rasmussen, Choteau    2.65

Celie Salmond, Choteau    2.72

Shayle Hildebrand, Joliet    2.80

Kayla Schmiedeke, Stevensville    2.90

Hallie Sohr, Ronan    2.94

Emma Schmidt, Gallatin Gateway    3.06

Ruby Speth, Bozeman    3.15

Nichole Lake, Polson    3.19

Darby Yeager, Choteau    3.34

Barrel Racing

Laramie Noble, Shepherd    17.68

Taylour Russell, Conrad    17.69

Brityn Garrett, Butte    17.77

Morgan Link, Billings    17.79

Mikayla Fuller, Bozeman    17.82

Samantha Flikkema, Bozeman    17.93

Stephanie Bartmess, Helena    17.99

Keslie Wolfe, Boulder    18.02

Tara Hansen, Manhattan    18.03

Emma Johnson, Gallatin Gateway    18.09