Hunter Herrin may be viewed as a veteran by many, but nothing was slowing him down on Monday as he claimed the Round 5 victory after stopping the clock at 7.4 seconds.
After the round, Herrin was overcome with emotion after all of the hard work he has put in this season.
“You just get overwhelmed and that’s what’s hitting me right now,” Herrin said. “You work so hard to get here when you’re younger and 100% healthy and then you waste some years that you think you should have won the world title and you didn’t. Your focuses kind of change to just staying on top and then you have an injury. I had to have two hip surgeries. Then in your mind, you think, ‘What if I don’t make it back to that level that you were once at.”
Herrin has had to change the way he ropes after battling back from injuries, and that change is paying off in a big way.
“What I’ve learned is to not be Superman coming in here. I used to rely on my athletic ability so much, and I don’t have that anymore at 36 and two surgeries. I think what I’ve learned most through the surgeries and in 2018 and 2019 not getting to rodeo, is when you get an opportunity you’ve got to capitalize on it. I’m not going to be as fast or athletic as I was but hopefully, my mind is better than it was 10-15 years ago, and I’m going to try and rely on that a bit more.”
With the round win, Herrin has moved up to sixth place in the World Standings with earnings just over $100,000 on the year.
On aggregate, Westyn Hughes sits in first place with a total time of 40.70 seconds on five head. It is still Shad Mayfield at the top of the standings, but it is no longer a done deal as he is now out of the aggregate race. Mayfield currently sits in 15th place due to posting just two times in the first five rounds. If Marty Yates or Westyn Hughes wins the average we could have a shocking upset in the Tie-Down Roping Gold Buckle race.
NFR TIE-DOWN ROPING RESULTS
First Round: 1. Marty Yates, 7.1 seconds, $26,231; 2. Shad Mayfield, 7.5, $20,731; 3. Ty Harris, 7.8, $15,654; 4. Caddo Lewallen, 8.1, $11,000; 5. (tie) Cory Solomon and Westyn Hughes, 8.3, $5,500 each.
Second Round: 1. Marty Yates, 7.2 seconds, $26,231; 2. Timber Moore, 7.7, $20,731; 3. Tyson Durfey, 8.0, $15,654; 4. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Westyn Hughes, 8.1, $8,885 each; 6. Tyler Milligan, 8.2, $4,231.
Third Round: 1. Cory Solomon, 7.0 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Hunter Herrin and Tyson Durfey, 7.3, $18,192 each; 4. Shane Hanchey, 7.4, $11,000; 5. Adam Gray, 7.8, $6,769; 6. Westyn Hughes, 8.1, $4,231.
Fourth Round: 1. Adam Gray, 7.8 seconds, $26,231; 2. Westyn Hughes, 7.9, $20,731; 3. Tyson Durfey, 8.0, $15,654; 4. Tuf Cooper, 8.2, $11,000; 5. (tie) Ryan Jarrett and Haven Meged, 8.4, $5,500 each.
Fifth Round: 1. Hunter Herrin, 7.4 seconds, $26,231; 2. Shane Hanchey, 7.5, $20,731; 3. Ryan Jarrett, 8.2, $15,654; 4. Westyn Hughes, 8.3, $11,000; 5. Haven Meged, 8.4, $6,769; 6. Cory Solomon, 8.7, $4,231.
