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Heber • With the U.S. Open getting under way next week at Congressional Country Club in Maryland, it certainly raised some eyebrows to see NBC Golf Analyst and Hall of Fame golfer Johnny Miller soaking up the action at the Utah High School Rodeo Association finals.

As it turns out, Miller and his wife are big rodeo fans.

"I started watching rodeo on TV," Miller said. "And then when I lived in Salt Lake — down in the Cottonwood area — we'd go to the Oakley rodeo. I've sort of always been a fan of the rodeo."

Miller makes regular appearance at local rodeos throughout Utah and admits there's a certain element of danger involved in the sport.

"I used to race cars and four-wheelers and ride motorcycles and everything else. I probably shouldn't have done the stuff I've done, [but] I have a motto: I'd rather be going nowhere fast then somewhere slow."

Possibly going nowhere fast now is Bountiful's Sage Thacker, who blew out her knee on Wednesday and reinjured it Friday morning in the goat-tying event. The all-around leader had a dream of reaching the nationals.

"It's hard. I focused on this week, and that kind of messed everything up," Thacker said.

The Bountiful cheerleader went to the hospital and had a brace placed on her knee. Her mobility is limited, but she's going to try to finish out her remaining events.

"It feels better than I thought it would," Thacker said. "But that's because I have a high pain threshold."

Meanwhile, Shaylee Thacker of Nephi is in third place in the all-around and one of the favorites to win it.

Fremont's Dax Hadlock took first in boys' cow-cutting and now has his eye on the nationals. "It's the biggest rodeo on earth. You gotta have your A-game on." Hadlock said.

Plain City and the North Ogden area have represented well at the nationals in the past, and Hadlock is confident he'll be part of it this year. —

Highlights

R Girls' all-around leader Sage Thacker severely injures her knee in goat tying.

• The second go-round is complete after Friday's competition, setting up Saturday's event finals.