Britany Fleck and Dasher Dude beat a strong field to win the opening go-round in Omaha, Neb., with a 14.29-second run to earn $4,575. WPRA photo by Kerri Allardyce, Cowboy Images

OMAHA - The Justin Boots Championships is a very important three-day stretch for Britany Fleck, a 28-year-old cowgirl from Mandan, N.D.

Heading into the River City Rodeo on the banks of the flooded Missouri River, Fleck was No.16 in the ProRodeo standings, one spot out of qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the first time in her four-year career. But she and Dasher Dude beat a strong field to win the opening go-round with a 14.29-second run to earn $4,575.

That alone bumped her into the top 15 for the time being.

"It is kind of a big deal for me to be here," Fleck said. "It's the only way I can make enough money to make it to the NFR."

Fleck made the first move Thursday night inside CenturyLink Center; she'll need to keep up the momentum on Friday in order to qualify for Saturday's finals, which will feature the top four cowgirls from the two-round average. That means she'll rely heavily on her talented partner, Rootie, an 11-year-old black mare out of April Dell Dude by Texas High Dasher.

"This is my horse's kind of pen," she said of the basketball-court size arena.

Fleck finished the 2010 campaign 17th in the final world standings, just two spots out of qualifying for the NFR. She doesn't want to be on the outside looking in again.

"It has been a battle all year," she said. "It would mean the world to me to make the NFR this year."

2008 World Champion Lindsay Sears, who has won this rodeo for the last four years, had a little bad luck on opening night. Sears and Martha clipped a barrel causing it to be knocked down resulting in a 5-second penalty for the dynamic duo and finished 11th in the round.

Justin Boots Championships
Sept. 22-24 Omaha, Neb.

First round: 1. Britany Fleck, Mandan, N.D., 14.29 seconds, $4,575; 2. (tie) Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, and Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla., 14.33, $1,975 each; 4. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 14.54, $850; 5. Jill Moody, Letcher, S.D., 14.59; 6. Tammy Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas, 14.63; 7. Kim Schulze, Elbert, Colo., 14.71; 8. (tie) Sydni Blanchard, Albuquerque, N.M., and Cassie Moseley, Cedar Lane, Texas, 14.88 each; 10. Carlee Pierce, Woodward, Okla., 19.25; 11. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, 19.27; 12. Robyn Herring, Huntington, Texas, 19.78.