Several local cowgirls made strong showings in the second go of the Alabama Junior Rodeo Association Finals at the Covington Center Arena on Friday.

During Friday’s second go, the riders again participated in events for points to earn a spot in today’s championship short go.

The top 10 points earners in bull riding, breakaway, calf roping, pole bending, team roping, chute dogging, goat tying and barrel racing earn spots in those events in today’s short go.

First up on Friday was Marybeth Alexander in the sixth through eighth grade pole bending competition. After knocking down two poles on Thursday, Alexander more than made up for it with a perfect run and time of 23.361 seconds. That time earned Alexander a second place finish on the day and seventh place after two days of competition. Alexander moves on today’s championship short go.

Grace Schulz followed up her big Thursday with another strong performance on Friday in the sixth through eighth grade pole bending competition. Schulz breezed through the gates and finished sixth with a time of 26.049 seconds. Schulz is in fourth place after two days with the just the short go left today.

Sara Breedlove had strong run, but a clipped pole gave her a time of 30.502 seconds. That time was good enough for eighth place on Friday, but she missed the cut for the short go by three spots.

Greycen Worley got hit with a no time penalty in Friday’s sixth through eighth grade pole bending competition, but her fast time on Thursday was enough to give her 10th place heading into today’s short go.

In the sixth through eighth grade girls goat tying competition, Brynne Spurlin showed lighting quick speed with a time of 15.91 seconds, giving her second place during Friday’s run. Spurlin’s time put her in sixth overall and spot in today’s short go.

Schulz bounced back from pole bending slip with quick time in the sixth through eighth grade pole bending competition. Schulz clocked in at third place with a time of 16.64 seconds.

Alexander snuck into the 10th place of the girls sixth through eighth grade goat tying competition with a time of 20.27 seconds. Alexander’s time put her in 10th place overall for a spot in today’s championship short go.

Breedlove just missed the top 10 after her horse crossed the rope holding the gate giving her a 10-second penalty. With the penalty Breedlove’s time of 26.33 put her 12th place for the day and 12th place after two days of competition.

Worley also just missed the short go of the sixth through eighth grade girls goat tying competition.

The final event of the day for the local cowgirls was the sixth through eighth grade barrel racing competition.

Worley was the first was the first local cowgirl to barrel race on Friday, and her time of 19.186 placed her in ninth place for the day.

Schulz’s day continued strong when she came up with a fifth place finish with a time of 17.512 seconds to give her a spot in today’s championship short go.

Alexander also punched her ticket to the championship short go with a time of 12.606 seconds for sixth place finish in the sixth through eighth grade barrel racing event.

Spurlin whipped around the barrels for a fourth place finish with a time of 17.127 seconds.

Breedlove had a little trouble in the barrel racing event and didn’t make the top 10 cut for today’s short go.

The 2016 AJRA Finals continues today with the championship short go runs at 10 a.m., beginning with K-5 Jr. bull riding.

Following the completion of today’s short go, there will be an awards ceremony to announce the winners of the state championship saddles.