Hadley Thompson made the most of her final chance, winning the American West Regional Qualifier with a 1.79-second run in the finals to win $10,000 and secure one of the last spots advancing to The American Rodeo, set for May 22–23, 2026, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
For the 18-year-old high school senior, the win came after a string of missed opportunities earlier in the qualifier series—and a shift in her strategy that made all the difference.
“I was like, ‘third time’s a charm,’” Thompson laughed. “At this point, I don’t think it can get any worse — it’s got to go up.”
After falling short in Kentucky and Oklahoma City, Thompson used the break between events to regroup, focusing on small adjustments and get sharp. That reset paid off in Las Vegas.
She stopped the clock in 2.28 second in Round 1 on her “B” slot, then came back to 2.11 to be 4.39 on two head. The problem was, that put her ninth in the average with several strong girls to go in the second round. The suspense was palpable.
“I was more nervous for that than I was for just roping my cattle,” Thompson said.
She held on for a ninth-place average check worth $1,027.
From there, it was on to the one-header finals for a shot to go to the $2 million American Rodeo. Rather than let the nerves build, Thompson leaned on her faith to keep her head right.
“If God wants it to happen and it’s in His plan, then it’s going to happen,” she said. “That’s kind of what I try to think about… it helps me not get too nervous.”
Despite not loving the calf she drew in that last round, she let the run come together and stopped the clock in 1.79 seconds to land at the top of an already tough final.
“I didn’t feel very fast, to be honest,” Thompson said. “I try not to think about it too much during my runs. I feel like the more you think, the worse it goes.”
The run secured her return trip to The American, where she competed a year ago—but this time, she’s arriving with a different level of confidence.
“I feel like I’ve definitely grown a lot as a roper,” Thompson said. “My horse feels better. I feel like everything feels better—I have more confidence going into this one than I did last year.”
That confidence is backed by horsepower she knows inside and out. Thompson rides “Salty,” registered as CD Smokin Miss Kitty, the 7-year-old mare she’s trained herself since buying her as a yearling.
“She’s very, very special to me,” Thompson said. “I’ve trained and done everything with her… for her only being seven and to have gotten me where she has, I’m very thankful for her.”
Raised in a family of competitors, Thompson’s path into rodeo followed her older sisters, but her success has come from her own steady climb. A homeschool senior who plans to attend college while continuing to rope, she’s spent the winter jackpotting in Texas—an experience she credits for elevating her game.
“I think I’ve honestly changed a lot as a roper,” Thompson said. “Getting to jackpot almost every day… it’s helped a lot.”
Now, with the final qualifier complete, Thompson heads to Arlington as part of a field that spans seasoned pros and rising young talent—all roping for the same life-changing payday.
“I think it’s incredible,” she said. “There’s a lot of places that don’t have equal pay or that kind of opportunity… so I think it’s awesome that The American does this.”
And after making the most of her last opportunity to qualify, Thompson is heading to Globe Life Field not just hoping—but believing she belongs.
