SAN ANGELO, Texas — Since 2017, Hailey Kinsel has cemented herself as one of the top barrel racers in the world.
Kinsel - a four-time WPRA World Champion - set an arena record at the National Western Rodeo in Denver with a 14.63 second run.
Monday, she was among the field of competitors riding in slack at the 1st Community Federal Credit Union Spur Arena who hoped to crack the top 120 and make it to the San Angelo Rodeo.
"It doesn’t matter how many world championships you’ve won," Kinsel said. "(Or) if you’re like me and you have a record or if this is your first barrel race. You have just as good a shot. You’ve just got to be one of the fastest 120 today."
Stevi Hillman has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) eight times. Hillman said her career requires a constant focus on the sport.
"Twenty-four-seven we rodeo," Hillman said. "The difference between this and another job is this is not a nine-to-five job. This is all hours of the night whenever we need to take care of our horses."
Hillman said the payouts at the San Angelo Rodeo set it apart from other events.
To Kinsel, the crowd stands out. She said the excitement in San Angelo each year is unique.
"Some larger rodeos that we go to may have people come in from out of town or people that have never seen a rodeo before," she said. "What I think is cool about San Angelo is those people in the seats, they come here every year. They're excited to have this event back in their place."
The rodeo's first performance is at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Slack will continue Tuesday with team roping, steer wrestling and tie-down roping.