Tristan Martin is off to the best start of any cowboy in any event at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver.
Coming off of his first NFR qualification in the steer wrestling in 2021, Martin put up a 4.2 second run in Round 1 and a 3.6 second run in Round 2 Wednesday to not only take the lead in the two-head Average, but also both Go-Rounds. Martin’s aggregate time of 7.8 seconds on two is seven tenths faster than Don Payne, who lead for most of the rodeo until this point.
“It feels great, I’m just glad to be back rodeoing again and to be winning money in both rounds, couldn’t ask for nothing more,” he said after his 3.6 on Wednesday night. “I’ve never really had a good winter to start it out, to not be stressed out at the end of the year is going to feel great.”
Other leaders in the Average at the National Western heading into the Thursday, Jan. 20 performances are Cole Franks in the bareback riding, Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves in team roping, CoBurn Bradshaw in saddle bronc riding, Haven Meged in tie-down roping, Josh Frost in bull riding and Shannon McReynolds in barrel racing.