Carlee Otero Looks To Defend Utah Days Of ‘47 Title In 2026

The 2026 Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo is officially underway, and with it comes the first group of competitors looking to secure their gold medals. Over three-quarters of a million dollars in prize money is at stake, making this one of the most important stops towards the end of the summer run.

The roughstock events are a one-go with the top two advancing to the Gold Medal round on Saturday.

In the bareback riding, Cole Franks and Carson Hildre will be moving on to the Gold Medal round on Saturday night after turning in matching 83-point rides. Saddle bronc rider Sage Newman will be returning Saturday to defend his 2025 gold medal after scoring 88 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Am Hats Positive Times. Joining him will be No. 19-ranked Coleman Shallbetter, who turned in a score of 87 points. 

In bull riding, only two cowboys covered their bulls – Dalton Allred and Koby Jacobson – and will both advance to the Gold Medal round.

The timed events, excluding barrel racing, are a two-go average with the top two advancing to the final round.

In steer wrestling, J.D. Struxness secured his spot in the Gold Medal round after recording an aggregate time of 8.8 seconds on two head. He’ll be joined by Mason Couch, who turned in a time of 9.6 seconds on two head. Cody Snow and Lane Mitchell punched the first team roping ticket to Saturday with a time of 10.4 seconds on two head. Jr. Dees and Landen Glenn will also be making an appearance on Saturday after placing second in the average with a two-run time of 11.1 seconds.

Brothers Joel and Ty Harris will be advancing to Saturday’s Gold Medal round in tie-down roping, with Joel taking the top spot in a total time of 14.9 seconds and Ty finishing second in 15.9 seconds. Ty won a gold medal in 2019, and 2026 may be the year Joel secures a gold medal of his own.

Carlee Otero is back to defend her barrel racing title, and she took the win on opening night with a 17.43-second run. Megan McLeod-Sprague will be joining Otero on Saturday after laying down a 17.58. In breakaway roping, Cadee Williams turned in a 4.1-second aggregate, edging Rylee George’s 4.2. Both cowgirls will return to Saturday’s finals.

There’s plenty of rodeo action still to come in Salt Lake City, so stay tuned – Rodeo Roundtable will be bringing you the latest results and standout stories.