DENVER --- With just three performances left at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo before the U.S. Bank Championship Finals on Sunday, competition is heating up.

There were two performances in the Denver Coliseum on Friday and several contestants moved into position to earn a championship here. Riley Pruitt who was the tie-down roping champion here last year had his second-round competition on Friday afternoon at the 14th performance. Pruitt, from Gering, Nebraska, stopped the clock in 8.7 seconds. Combined with his previous time of 7.9, he has a total of 18.6 seconds.

He moved into second place and will be a spectator at the next three performances to see where he is in the top 12 that advance to Sunday. A year ago, he set the arena record during the final round when he roped and tied his calf in 6.9 seconds.

The reigning world champion, Tyson Durfey from Weatherford, Texas, also moved into the top five in the tie-down roping along with Chase Williams from Stephenville, Texas. Durfey is currently fifth and Williams is third.

Last year's team roping champions Clay Smith and Paul Eaves had the fastest run here on Friday night at 5.4 seconds. While that isn't likely to place in the first round, another good time in the second round could see them defending their title here. Smith, from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Eaves from Lonedell, Missouri, will rope here again Saturday at the 11 AM performance.

The rodeo will continue with a matinee performance at 11 AM, a afternoon performance at 3:30 PM, and an evening performance that starts at 8. At the conclusion of the evening performance, the first and second round winners will be determined as well as the top 12 in each event that will compete on Sunday for National Western Stock Show Rodeo championships.