Alia Abiad (Speller 58), a Western Springs, Illinois eighth grader, practices her spelling while walking at the treadmill desk her dad built for her and listening to podcasts, like Radio Lab, This American Life and The Moth.
Alia tied for 19th last year. Since she's started studying on her own, her parents are less tired, she said.
"It's been really great and really interesting," Alia said. "It's been a roller coaster."
Alia misspelled "irbis," a snow leopard. But she made the crowd laugh before she did, and was eliminated.
"The irbis is an extremely secretive animal, especially about its age, weight and salary," Dr Bailly read.
"Like everyone," Alia quipped.
