BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
After roping with Clint Summers and Clay Smith throughout the year, Jake Long is going to the NFR as the No. 10 heeler in the PRCA World Standings. He’ll be roping behind Summers in Las Vegas.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup (South Dakota), $19,000
Roping with Clint Summers at the Governor’s Cup, Long had his two best runs of the season on his final two runs of the season. After barely advancing to the Semifinals, Summers/Long were 3.7 before taking second in the Finals with a 3.6-second run.
Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo, $7,566
Summers/Long turned in a 5.2-second run to win the Finals and ultimately finished second in the Average at 9.9 seconds on two. Their Average payout made up nearly two-thirds of their total cash.
Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo (South Dakota), $7,282
Summers/Long turned in runs of 4.8 and 4.0 seconds to ultimately end up second in the Average in Deadwood, which paid about $4,000. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp were just a tenth better than them.
FASTEST RUNS
Lewiston Roundup (Idaho), 3.8 Seconds
Long made a late charge in order to make the NFR in the Top 10 and that began in Lewiston, which concluded on Sept. 9. Their 3.8-second run was third overall behind Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves and Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp and Long would go on to win nearly $30,000 in September.
National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, 3.9 Seconds
Roping with Clay Smith in Denver back in January, Long had a time of 3.9 in the Finals to win the first PRCA Playoff Rodeo of 2023. Smith/Long, who roped together at the 2022 NFR, won $6,822 apiece.
NOTABLE WINS
Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo (Texas), 9.8 Seconds on Two
Before winning the National Western in January, Smith/Long were the champions in Odessa that same month with two-head time of 9.8 seconds. They were two tenths better than Jake Cooper/Tyler McKnight.
Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, 10.7 Seconds on Two
At Missouri’s only Playoff Rodeo, Summers/Long took Round 1 with a time 5 seconds flat which powered them to victory in the Average. That same weekend they also placed second at the Lea County Rodeo (New Mexico), so they combined to make $9,600 over the Weekend of Aug. 12.
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