Diné contingents claim 10 INFR world titles

LAS VEGAS, Nev.

Over the course of four days the math tilted in favor of the Diné contingents at this year’s Indian National Finals Rodeo.

With most of the contestants gaining significant leads in the previous rounds, Saturday’s championship round served as a coronation ceremony for 10 world champions from the Navajo Nation.

Six of those winners claimed their very first INFR crowns while Coyote Canyon, New Mexico cowboy Donovan Yazzie repeated as the tie-down world champion.

“My plan was to get a good head start,” Yazzie said. “I got an early lead in that first round and from there I tried to build on that and maintain my lead.”

That was the case for most of the other INFR winners.

Round Rock, Arizona cowboy Delvecchio Kaye easily captured the bareback crown with an aggregate of 335 points with fellow Diné Earl Tsosie Jr., came in second with 307 points.

“This means a lot because I fought a lot battles and I overcame a lot of injuries this past year,” Kaye said of winning his first INFR world title. “But if you put your mind to it and you work hard anything is possible.”

Other first-time winners include Taniah Nez (breakaway), Creighton Curley (saddle bronc), Myles John (team roping), Larry Willie (senior team roping) and Gilbert Monroe (senior team roping).

INFR regular Dean Holyan won his third world title in the junior breakaway roping. Like Yazzie, Holyan repeated as champion. His older sister, Faith Holyan, took the women’s all-around title while Winslow High senior Latrell Long won his second INFR world title, his first in the open bull riding. In 2016, he won his first in the junior bulls.

For a more in depth story on the winners pick up the Navajo Times on Thursday.

---