The spellers were delayed this afternoon, but there was nary a chuckle when speller 39, Siyona Mishra, spelled "chiliad," which means a period lasting 1,000 years. Dr. Bailly read the sentence:
While it really only lasted about ten minutes, the contestants felt that sitting on the stage waiting for the Spelling Bee to resolve their technical issues lasted an entire chiliad.
Jack Benveniste-Plitt, speller 37, is wearing a yellow yarmulke to match the bee theme. He correctly spelled "guenon" to stay in.
Bryce Harrell, speller 33, misspelled "syncytium" and is out of the competition.
One speller, Kassie McKnight (Speller 138) is using her placard to fan herself in the back row.
Greta Warner, speller 27, misspelled "laconism" and is out. Speller 28, Cameron Keith -- the youngest in the competition -- remained in by correctly spelling "odontiasis."
Oona Flood, the blue-haired speller 19, asked first for the language of origin, then for the spelling.
"I hope I don't have to give that to you," Dr. Bailly replied.
He didn't. Oona spelled "xiphias" correctly, then walked away, her arms raised in victory.
Colleen Ung, speller 18, misspelled "apostasy," which means the renunciation of a religious faith, to go out.
Sophia Han, speller 17, held her forehead and snapped her fingers as she asked Dr. Bailly so say her word, "vermicide," five times in a row.
Dr. Bailly did. Sophia snapped along as she spelled it correctly.
Charles Hamilton Jr., speller 8, wasn't pleased to hear his word, "Wensleydale."
"May I have an easy word, please?" he asked.
"We're kind of locked-in now," Dr. Bailly replied.
He spelled the word, which means a white cheese eaten fresh before curing, correctly.
Bethany Doudna, speller 3, is out on "rutabaga."
And "guayabi" tripped up Debrinna-Meggie Alaia Su'a, speller 4. She's also been eliminated.