Joseph White
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON
No one has mastered the look of spelling bee despair better than 10-year-old Veronica Penny of Ancaster, Ont.
Her long blond hair was buried deep in her hands each time she was presented with a word yesterday at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
She did it three times -- the third time for a full 20 seconds -- while contemplating the word "paleethnology" in the quarterfinals.
"It looks like she's going to cry," said her mother, Pam Penny. "But she's not. She's just thinking."
The moment of drama had a positive outcome.
Veronica flawlessly spelled the word -- it has to do with the study of early humans -- putting the first-time participant among 45 spellers who advanced into today's semifinals, thus earning a spot on national television.
"I'm thinking," Veronica said, explaining her unconventional onstage style. "I was in another spelling bee, and that's what I used when the words got harder."
The seven advancing Canadians fielded some tough words, including "polysyndeton" and "keratitis" to get to the semifinals.
They are: Jessica Zung, 13, of Toronto, Curtis Bogetti, 14, of Kamloops, B.C., Julie Huttemann, 12, of Rossland, B.C., Emilie Lafleur of Saint-Lambert, Que., Anqi Dong, 13, of Saskatoon, Sask., Penny, 10, of Ancaster, Ont., and Grace Tsai, 14, of Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada had a strong contingent of 22 spellers, and several made their presence known by wearing bright red T-shirts with their country's name in big white letters on the front.
The 81st edition of the bee began early in the day with a record 288 spellers in a competition that has truly hit the big time, inspiring movies, books and a Broadway musical. ESPN will again broadcast the semifinals, and today's two-hour finals will be aired live in prime time on ABC for the third consecutive year.
No Canadian has ever won the bee.
National Spelling Bee taking toll on students
Joseph White
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON
No one has mastered the look of spelling bee despair better than 10-year-old Veronica Penny of Ancaster, Ont.
Her long blond hair was buried deep in her hands each time she was presented with a word yesterday at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
She did it three times -- the third time for a full 20 seconds -- while contemplating the word "paleethnology" in the quarterfinals.
"It looks like she's going to cry," said her mother, Pam Penny. "But she's not. She's just thinking."
The moment of drama had a positive outcome.
Veronica flawlessly spelled the word -- it has to do with the study of early humans -- putting the first-time participant among 45 spellers who advanced into today's semifinals, thus earning a spot on national television.
"I'm thinking," Veronica said, explaining her unconventional onstage style. "I was in another spelling bee, and that's what I used when the words got harder."
The seven advancing Canadians fielded some tough words, including "polysyndeton" and "keratitis" to get to the semifinals.
They are: Jessica Zung, 13, of Toronto, Curtis Bogetti, 14, of Kamloops, B.C., Julie Huttemann, 12, of Rossland, B.C., Emilie Lafleur of Saint-Lambert, Que., Anqi Dong, 13, of Saskatoon, Sask., Penny, 10, of Ancaster, Ont., and Grace Tsai, 14, of Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada had a strong contingent of 22 spellers, and several made their presence known by wearing bright red T-shirts with their country's name in big white letters on the front.
The 81st edition of the bee began early in the day with a record 288 spellers in a competition that has truly hit the big time, inspiring movies, books and a Broadway musical. ESPN will again broadcast the semifinals, and today's two-hour finals will be aired live in prime time on ABC for the third consecutive year.
No Canadian has ever won the bee.
