CASPER, Wyo. Nine athletes from Blue Mountain Community College qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo, and after Thursday four have shots of making Saturdays short round.

Dakota Eldridge is a guarantee to enter the finals in at least one event and leads the all-around field. The Elko, Nev. cowboy posted his worst of three steer wrestling runs Thursday (6.9 seconds), but at 15.8 after three head sits No. 3 in the average. If he makes a clean run in team roping today, Eldridge should maintain a top-12?standing with Prineville cowboy Cully Stafford for his second event in the short go.

 A hopeful for the short round in tie-down roping, Eldridge was knocked into 13th place Thursday one spot shy of qualifying. He holds a 55-point lead for the national all-around cowboy title and his horse Rusty is contending to win Horse of the Year.

Im just telling myself that someones right behind me and I need to keep winning, Eldridge said. I havent even looked at the (all-around) points.

One position behind Eldridge in the steer wrestling is BMCCs Bryan Reay in fourth place. He holds a 16-second average, and having ridden three times, awaits completion of todays rodeo to make his short round dream final.

Calf roper Justin Parke is on the cusp of entering Saturdays short round with a 34.6-second average. There are 12 cowboys left that could bump him out.

Austin?Foss (210 points) moved into No. 8 in the bareback riding standings Thursday and finished his three performances Wednesday. Nine riders remain and the best is 52 points behind Foss.

Hermiston High School alumna Mary Shae Hays (44.70-second average) fell in to 14th place in barrel racing Thursday and will not compete in the short round.

As a team, BMCC ranks No. 10 on the mens side with 240 points. Sam Houston State University is No. 1 with 555 points.