Exmark Roughstock Athlete of the Week: Zeke Thurston Wins Back When They Bucked

Zeke Thurston drew two good ones and made them count in the Black Hills

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Zeke Thurston proved yet again why he is a four-time and reigning World Champion. The Canadian bronc rider matched up with two great horses at Back When They Bucked to come out on top and be your Exmark Roughstock Athlete of the Week.

Thurston’s Round 1 matchup was Burch Rodeo’s Little Lunatic. The two were good enough to be marked 83 points which landed in a tie for sixth. That sixth-place finish was enough to move Thurston on to the Final Round.

There, the horse next to Thurston’s name was Sutton Rodeo’s South Point. With a score of 87.5 coming in after a picture perfect eight seconds, Thurston got the win by two and a half points. He left the pay window with over $4,000 added to his season earnings. The entire Top 4, which also included Sage Newman, Layton Green and Wyatt Casper, made the NFR in 2023.

Although the reigning World Champion is not inside the Top 10 in the World going into the Summer Run, he is known for big scores at big rodeos and that is just what 100 Rodeos in 100 Days is about to bring. Thurston is the No. 11 ranked bronc rider after the Back When They Bucked win and in the last month, he has moved up three spots in the PRCA World Standings.