Roughstock Athlete of the Week: Rookie Keenan Hayes Rises to No. 2 in the World After Rodeo Austin Victory

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Keenan Hayes came into professional rodeo and has been a force from Day 1. The Colorado bareback rider broke records on his permit and is now sitting No. 2 in the PRCA World Standings after another win came by way of Rodeo Austin making him your Roughstock Athlete of the Week.

Things got started for Hayes in the Long Round with an 84.5-point ride on Dakota Rodeo’s Green Bay for a ninth-place finish and $451 before he drew Dakota’s War Rock in the Semifinals. He put up an 88-point ride to finish second and go on to the Finals where he’d win it all with 86.5 points on the National Finals bucking horse of Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Black Kat. He took home over $14,000 from Austin.

On top of a successful Rodeo Austin, Hayes added to his earnings with checks from the Southeastern Livestock Exposition and Cave Creek Rodeo Days. He is making every ride count with over $28,000 between him and No. 3 bareback rider in the world, Rocker Steiner.

Hayes sits $25,000 behind Leighton Berry with one rodeo of the Texas Swing left. Hayes’ rookie year is shaping up to be unforgettable.