Both Kush Sharma and Sophia
Hoffman prevailed, one could say, in an unprecedented
spelling bee
marathon lasting
96 rounds. The first
session of 66 rounds
for these residents
of Kansas City, Missouri,
ended in a
tie when the judges
ran out of assigned
words, leading to a
second session two
weeks later. Although 13-year-old Kush won when he
correctly spelled “definition,” it’s worth remembering
that 11-year-old Sophia stumbled on “stifling,” bound
to be an easy word for such an ace speller. Ultimately,
it was a test of endurance that could have stifled
even an adult speller. Kush will go on to the national
contest in D.C.—and Sophia, of course, can wait
for 2015.
