Paige Trujillo and her horse Boss entering the arena in Guthrie. Courtesy photo

Paige Trujillo with her championship buckles. Courtesy photo

After a standout season and an impressive showing on the national stage, Paige Trujillo returned home with one of the highest honors in junior high rodeo competition.

Trujillo, an eighth-grade student at Los Alamos Middle School, earned the title of Reserve World Champion in Junior High Girls Goat Tying, securing the No. 2 spot in the nation at the 21st Annual National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR), held June 21–27 in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Trujillo delivered three consistent and determined performances to earn her place among the nation’s best. Her opening-round run of 8.55 seconds placed her inside the overall top 10 standings. She followed with another strong and steady performance of 8.58 seconds in 2 nd performance, maintaining her position and qualifying for Saturday night’s championship round among the top 20 contestants.

Entering the finals in fifth place overall, Trujillo rose to the occasion when it mattered most. With an outstanding 7.30-second championship run, she finished second in the final round. Combined with her previous performances, her three-run total secured the Reserve World Champion title. World champions at the NJHFR are determined by the fastest combined times across all three rounds of competition, making consistency and composure under pressure critical to success.

Team New Mexico also celebrated an exceptional week in Guthrie, finishing third overall among all states and countries competing. The team additionally brought home honors as Team Roping Reserve Champions and Bareback Riding Champion.

Paige’s accomplishment marks an extraordinary finish to her junior high rodeo season and reflects the dedication, work ethic, and support system that helped carry her to national success.

Congratulations to Paige Trujillo and all of Team New Mexico at the 2026 National Junior High Finals Rodeo.

Paige Trujillo making New Mexico proud. Courtesy photo

Paige Trujillo and Boss take a stroll. Courtesy photo