Whitfield still has a chance to win world title

Ray Brewer

Friday, Dec. 11, 1998 | 11:09 a.m.

Fred Whitfield is in familiar territory, trailing Cody Ohl in the calf roping world standings.

At last year's National Finals Rodeo, Whitfield won the calf roping event, but fell $5,000 short to Ohl for the world title.

This year, after eight go-arounds at NFR in Las Vegas, Whitfield is in second place in the world standings with $127,218.25 and in third place in NFR averages.

He follows his old nemesis Ohl, who is in first place of both standings.

With only two go-arounds left at NFR, Whitfield needs some help to win his fourth calf roping world title.

Ohl is far ahead with $189,021.47, but after Whitfield picked up $14,935.63 in Fridays seventh go-around, he is still mathematically alive, but barely.

Whitfield, from Hockley, Texas, needs Friday's performance repeated two more times. On Friday, Whitfield posted a time of 7.50 seconds to win the go- around, while Ohl had troubles in registering a time of 11.20 seconds and did not win any money.

"It looks like I have an outside chance," said Whitfield, who won the world title in 1991 and 95-96. "I haven't roped well all week long. I'd get a good calf and still mess it up."

Whitfield benefited from Ohl's bad performance.

"A lot of things happened tonight that were good for me," he said. "I don't wish those guys bad luck, but I still have a chance to win the world title."

Whitfield is hoping to finish up strong in the final two days of NFR to make up for a slow start.

"It's disappointing here for me this year," Whitfield said. "Especially with my performance last year. I always expect to do good and expect big things from myself. But, sometimes it doesn't always work out that way."

Trent Walls finished second in Friday's calf roping go-around with a time of 8.00 and Rusty Sewalt took third at 8.10.

In other action from Fridays seventh go-around:

* Larry Sandvick, from Kaycee, Wyom.., won the bareback riding event with a score of 85 to bring him within $2,000 of Mark Gomes for the world title. Gomes is also in first place of the NFR money with $53,135.12.

* Jeff Corbello win the steer wrestling go-around with a time of 3.70 seconds to take home $14,935.63. Mike Smith is currently in first place of the world standing with $125, 803.79, approximately $15,000 ahead of second place Rope Myers.

* The duo of J.P Wickett and Trevor Brazile won the team roping go-around with a time of 4.50 to pocket $14,935.63.

* Dan Mortensen won the saddle bronc go-around with a score of 84 to win $13,004.64. With the win, Mortensen maintains a $93,000 lead for the world title.

* Janet Stover won the barrel racing go-around and $14,935.63 with a time of 13.98.