Two members of the East Texas A&M University Rodeo team showed their skills among the nation's elite riders at the 2026 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming.

Jill White and Carlee Martinez qualified for the CNFR after finishing the 2025-26 season ranked first and second, respectively, in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association's Southern Region standings in the Breakaway Roping event. This was the second trip to the CNFR for both Lion cowgirls.

While neither finished high enough to capture a national championship, the pair still rode hard and put up some fast times in their event. A National Championship win would have been the sixth in the last five years for Lion Rodeo.

Overall, Martinez finished highest of the two Lions, coming home in 24^th place out of 69 competitors. She had times of 2.6 and 2.3 seconds in the first and second rounds, which were 12^th and 9^th best, respectively, but didn't record a valid run in the third round. Out of all competitors with two out of three completed runs, Martinez ranked 11^th best out of 31 riders with a combined time of 4.9 seconds.

White finished in 51^st place overall, only posting a time in round 2. Her 2.7-second run in that round was 18^th best. For riders with only one valid time, White was 7^th best.

Learn more about Rodeo at East Texas A&M.