Marybeth Alexander and Jaden Musgrove each captured state titles this weekend in the 2016 National Barrel Horse Association’s State Final barrel racing competition at the Covington Center Arena.

Alexander and Musgrove competed against more than 200 other barrel racers to pick up titles in their respective divisions.

“I was completely shocked when they announced my name over the intercom,” Alexander said after winning the Youth 3-D division. “I knew I had good run and thought I won, but when they called my name out my draw dropped and my eyes got really big.”

Alexander’s time of 15.741 landed her the title in her first year participating in the event.

“I had a perfect time for the 3-D,” Alexander said. “I felt really good about the run.”

Over the weekend, Alexander didn’t run into a single barrel.

“It was a long hot day, but it was all worth it in the end,” Alexander said.

After completing her Sunday run, Alexander had to wait several hours before hearing the results called over the intercom.

“We had to wait awhile before they announced it, but all us parents kind tallied up all the times and had a pretty good idea that Marybeth and Jaden had won their division,” Marybeth’s father, Chad Alexander said.

Alexander is fairly new to the rodeo life having only been riding for a little more than a year, but it’s quickly become her favorite thing to do.

“I love barrel racing and pole bending,” Marybeth said. “The rodeos are a lot of fun because you get to hang out with your friends that you might only get to see once a month at events.”

Next up for Alexander will be the 2016 Alabama Junior High School Rodeo Association’s beginning on Thursday at the Covington Center Arena.

Alexander will compete in barrel racing, pole bending and goat tying at the AJHSRA.

Musgrove took the top spot in the Open 4-D division with a time of 15.810.

“It wasn’t a perfect,” Musgrove said. “We were a little wide around the barrels, but he (Uno) put us where we needed to be to win so I was proud of him. After the run though, I really wasn’t sure if we had a good enough time to win.”

By winning title at the NBHA state finals, Alexander and Musgrove will now move on to the NBHA World Finals held in Perry, Ga., in July.

Both girls said that the competition level at the World Finals is something they are both looking forward to.

“Getting to run against people for all over the world,” Alexander said about what she looks forward to at the World Finals.

Musgrove is heading back to the World Finals for the second year.

“I went last year and it was a lot of fun,” Musgrove said. “There is so much to do and then to get to compete against some of the best horses in the world its something I look forward to.”