CLOSING IN: Tracy Griffin of Eastern Oregon University bears down on her target during team roping at the EOU Rodeo Saturday at Elgin. ().

ELGIN – To no one’s surprise, the Eastern Oregon University women’s rodeo team is leading the region after the first weekend of the short fall season.

The Mountaineer women earned second place in the first of two NIRA Northwest Region rodeos Friday at the Elgin Stampede Grounds, following that with a team victory in the Eastern Oregon University Rodeo held Saturday and Sunday at the same arena.

"Overall the kids did really well," EOU head coach Russ Evans said. "I expected it out of them."

Going into the second NIRA Northwest Region rodeo Friday at Ontario, the EOU women are leading the University of Idaho in the race for the region title by four points. Evans would not be surprised if EOU and UI battled to the wire for the crown.

UI won the NIRA Northwest Region rodeo women’s title with 282 points. EOU was second with 216. But EOU had enough firepower to overtake the Vandals at EOU’s own rodeo.

Combining Friday morning’s slack and the evening performance, Lindsey Peila of EOU won two events. She was first goat tying with a time of 7.5 seconds, and took breakaway roping in 2.6 seconds. Teammate Danielle Peila finished fourth in goat tying (8.2 seconds).

Derral Thomas led the EOU men to fifth place at the NIRA rodeo, earning third place in the barebacks; his score was 57. Blue Mountain Community College won the men’s team title.

Frank Adamek of EOU was one of only three cowboys who rode their bulls in either the slack or performance of the EOU Rodeo. He had the top score among the trio. Since none of the three made it to the buzzer in the short go-round Sunday, Adamek was first in average as well.

EOU’s Andy Endicott and Cody Jepsen of Blue Mountain were third in the short round in team roping, and finished fourth in average.

Kaki McLean spent the weekend goat tying and playing volleyball for EOU, making two round trips from La Grande to Portland. She was rewarded in the arena by earning second in average in goat tying at the EOU Rodeo. McLean was third in the first round and won the short go.

Lindsey Peila had an outstanding weekend. She was second in the first round in goat tying with a quick time of 7.9 seconds, third in the short go and third in average. Peila was fifth in average in barrel racing, after placing sixth in the long go-round and fourth in the short round.

Peila would have won the average in breakaway roping, but broke the barrier in the finals. She was first in the first round in 2.4 seconds.

Cassi Warnock and Rusty Bengoa of EOU combined to win the short go in team roping in 9.3 seconds; they were third in average.

EOU cowboys and cowgirls compete in the NIRA Northwest Region rodeo Friday at Ontario. The performance begins at noon, followed by slack. Then its on to the Ontario rodeo Saturday and Sunday.

– Joe Sova