Hali Williams roped her last calf in 2.6 seconds to win RodeoHouston for the second time, cashing in a huge $65,000.
The Comanche, Texas, cowgirl first won the title in 2023 on her way to the National Finals Breakaway Roping. But this time, the win looked different—less of a breakthrough, more of a step forward in a season she’s more prepared to handle.
“I think my foundation’s laid a little better, and it won’t be rocked as easy,” Williams said. “I’ve had enough failures… I’ve missed a world title. What else is this thing going to bring me?”
A Different Kind of Confidence
It wasn’t a case of total domination in Houston for Williams, but instead an effort to just get to rope another one until the very end.
In Super Series 4, she picked up a check in Round 2 with a 4.9-second run before winning Round 3 in 3.4 seconds for $3,000, finishing with $3,500 to advance.
From there, she added another $875 in the semifinals with a 2.8-second run—doing just enough at every turn to keep her name in play.
By the time she reached the final four, she found herself in a familiar spot—fourth, just like in 2023.
But getting there wasn’t smooth sailing.
“I started on Blaze, and I wasn’t roping very good,” Williams said. “I go out there and miss the first one on probably the best calf… and I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me? What do I need to do?’”
Instead of letting that miss unravel her week, it reset it.
After she missed that night, Williams sat down with her bible and read the book of Hosea straight through.
“The next morning I woke up… and I just remember because that made a difference,” she said. “I felt so much better.”
The Long Game
With the way Houston runs, it is a game of decisions, something Williams leaned into when she switched from Blaze (Ru More Has It) back to Red Light (Stylish Red Light) before the semifinals.
“It just clicked when we came back home,” she said. “He worked outstanding.”
With a handful of good runs already on the board and one of the top girls going still left to rope in the 10-man round, she had a choice to make: play it safe or put herself in winning position.
“All you can do is go make a run, get yourself in… and let it be,” she said.
She did just that, stopping the clock in 3.6 seconds to punch her ticket to the Shootout.
After the flag dropped on that run and Maddy Jacobs backed in the box, all Williams could do was wait.
“I felt like I could probably throw up,” Williams said. “You’ve already done your job… now you have to live and die by that sword.”
When it Counted
Four-man round. Clean Slate. One run for $65,000.
Williams was first out and did her job. Her 2.6-second run held, taking the win and pushing her total RodeoHouston earnings north of $70,000.
But even with the payout and the second RodeoHouston title, Williams is looking forward and has her eyes set on December.
“I learned from the last time that you can’t try to hold onto something that you don’t have yet,” Williams said. “I’m just going to keep fighting like I’m still 93rd in the world.”
More Than a Win
The win was sweet for the 22-year-old but means something way more than the No. 1 spot in the WPRA standings.
“I’m keeping my faith first,” she said. “Whatever happens, happens second and third.”
Three years ago, she was a teenager trying to fight her way to a Finals appearance. Now, she is on a mission.
“The mental toughness is something you have to get as you grow up and go through those things because it’s not like you’re just given a shield that you just know how to use in the beginning.”
