The competition at the Blackham Coliseum during the Mid Winter Fair and Rodeo in Lafayette, La., illustrated everything that is awesome about WPRA competition. Two cowgirls from the opposite ends of the WPRA ladder ran to a dead heat against the best in the world. One is at the top already; the other is just getting started.

Newly crowned WPRA world champ Brittany Pozzi did not take much of a break from her winning ways since claiming the title back in December. The Victoria, Texas cowgirl shared the victory at the rodeo with Louisiana cowgirl Jennifer Lynd. Each posted a time of 15.61 seconds and took home identical checks worth $1,089.

For Pozzi, the earnings represent her first check of the 2010 season puting her near the top fifty already. For Lynd, the short trip, just over 140 miles from her Springhill home, helped her reach part one of her 2010 goal. She filled her permit with the victory in Lafayette and can now start on part two: qualifying to her first Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo.

Lynd grew up riding walking horses before beginning to run barrels on a neighbor's horse when she was nine years old. "She was an absolute pill!" says Lynd but the mare that taught her patience and trust. Lynd says she always rode problem horses but is grateful for the lessons learned while trying to solve the problems. She only dabbled in professional rodeo until meeting her husband.

"Will is a team roper and after we got married, I started buddying with him at the rodeos," she says.

After watching her husband claim the championship last November at the Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo and planning a family trip to Pocatello, Idaho come April for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, Lynd has made a SECFR qualification her goal for the season.

In pursuit of her goal, Lynd is riding a new partner. She bought 14-year old paint Allison's Wildfire-Sonny-- from a friend. The gelding had been run at local NBHA shows before being turned out for two years. Since getting Sonny about a month ago, Lynd has been legging him up. The gelding had never been to rodeos before and Lynd put him to the test, entering up at Mesquite and Alexandria prior to Lafayette.

"The first two really scared him and made me second guess myself," Lynd says. "I guess third time's a charm since he really gave his all at Lafayette."

Saying Sonny is a sweet horse, Lynd described her run: "I just had faith in my horse and he took off down the alley. He really handled the ground and made a nice, smooth run. He looked at me after my run like 'did I do ok?' I just love him."

Riding a new horse, Lynd was unsure just how good the run was until the announcer finally gave the crowd the time. The coliseum understandably erupted at the news that Lynd had tied the champion.

Lynd has already moved into SECFR contention with her big payday at Lafayette. She and Will are planning a full slate of rodeos this season. Lynd's son Cade is also on the team, providing support and help to Mom.

"He plays a huge role in my life. He loves going and loves to critique my runs," she says. "He watches my videos more than me."

Perennially one of the stops of WPRA barrel racers during the "winter run" of building rodeos, the rodeo hosted 76 barrel racers all running for their share of the $5,586 total purse.

Just as you might expect, the competition was tight. Ten checks paid out - only seventeen one-hundredths of a second difference in time from top to bottom. Splitting third and fourth was former WNFR qualifier Maegan Reichert, making her comeback from a season ending injury sustained last summer, along with Oklahoman Michelle West. West, who claims the Southeastern Circuit, moved from ninth to third in the circuit standings with her check worth $782 in Lafayette.