Leading the ProRodeo world standings wasn’t enough for Jackie Crawford—she had to hammer the WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi Progressive Round 1 with a time of 2.39 seconds, sealing her place in Saturday’s Showdown Round.

“Corpus is awesome,” Crawford said. “I’ve won first and second here before, and I have that surfboard in my saddlehouse. It’s one of the coolest prizes I have. But a big thing for me is to try to get through to the Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo. It would be a special win and a special advancement, too.”

Crawford wasn’t drafted as one of the 10 breakaway ladies on the five Kid Rock N Rodeo teams, but there is still an opportunity for her to get her foot in the door at the May 17 event. The top two finishers at WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi will join the WCRA FreeRiders team.

“I wasn’t planning on winning the round, but I wasn’t going to back off of it either.” – Jackie Crawford

The Rodeo Corpus Christi format sees go-round winners and the top five in the average head to the Showdown Round taking place Saturday, where they will be whittled down to the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round of three.

“They’re bringing so many [back in the average] that I wasn’t gunslinging tonight,” Crawford explained. “If the opportunity presented itself I wanted to be able to fire off but I knew the start was going to be a little tricky and I wanted to hit the barrier and take my first shot.”

The start was indeed tricky, with a four-under barrier (i.e. very short box) and soft calves. Crawford selected up-and-coming palomino mare “Hail Mary” for the setup.

“My calf was perfect,” Crawford said. “It was soft leaving and so I was just trying to hold and come easy across the line. Mary did it perfectly and gave me an easy shot.”

Crawford’s Progressive Round 2 plan includes winning some money—but not at the risk of tearing down the barrier and swinging for the fences. According to her, she’s prioritizing setting the run up well and if she slides into the pay window like she did tonight, she’ll take it.

“It’s so fun for me to come to the WCRA events and see girls I don’t even recognize,” Crawford said of the youth crowding onto the breakaway results leaderboard. “I want to get to know them—and it’s fun to get to see the talent that’s coming up and taking advantage of the opportunities that associations like the WCRA give them.” It’s really promising to see the sport grow since a lot of girls did a lot of work to get it here. To know that the girls coming up are getting to do this is pretty special.”

WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi Progressive Round 1 Results