Toronto girl advances in Scripps spelling bee
Ottawa rival also moves on
A 12-year-old girl from Toronto has advanced to the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling "equinoctial."
Laura Newcombe was among 41 youths with the highest scores after Wednesday's rounds.
Laura, who also spelled "efficacy", is trying to become the first Canadian to win the title.
Laura's top Canadian rival, Veronica Penny from Rockland, just outside Ottawa, seemed to have some trouble with the proper noun "Fauntleroy."
The 13-year-old seventh grader pronounced the word several times amid long pauses before spelling it very slowly — and correctly and also advanced.
The semifinals take place Thursday morning. The finals will be held Thursday night, broadcast in prime time for the sixth consecutive year.
The winner will receive more than $40,000 in cash and prizes.