PUEBLO, Colo. – J.W. Harris’ bid for a fifth PRCA title came up short this past week at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the 28-year-old headed home with a variety of injuries.
Harris did not compete in Round 10 on Saturday night because of a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee, as well as a slew of other injuries (facial laceration over his left eye, mild concussion and a posterior deltoid contusion) he suffered following a rough hang-up in Round 8 on Johnny Ringo on Thursday night.
He was bucked off by Stiff Drink in Round 9, before deciding not to ride again on Saturday night in Round 10.
The Texas bull rider concludes the 2014 PRCA season ninth in the PRCA standings ($109,181.59) following a 4-for-10 performance in Las Vegas that placed him sixth in the event average. He began the week sixth in the standings.
PRCA rookie Sage Kimzey clinched his first PRCA title this week and went 8-for-10 (671 points) to win the NFR event average title as well. According to the PRCA, Kimzey is just the second bull rider to win the PRCA Rookie of the Year title and bull riding championship in the same season. Bill Kornell did it in 1963.
2014 College National Finals Rodeo bull riding champion Joe Frost (490.5) went 6-for-10 to finish in second place in the event average, and former Built Ford Tough Series bull rider Beau Hill (374) placed third by going 5-for-10. Hill finished a career-high fourth in the PRCA standings. In 2004, Hill placed in five rounds to finish third in the event average and seventh in the standings.
2014 PBR World Champion Bull contender Fire & Smoke bucked off both of his challengers – Tyler Smith (Round 1) and Josh Koschel (Round 9) – during the NFR.
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