NZ Speller through to Semifinals at US Champs

New Zealand Speller through to Semifinals at US Spelling Championships

New Zealand Spelling Champion Kate Weir brilliantly spelled her way into the Semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC today (Wednesday, United States or Thursday, New Zealand)

Kate is a 13 year-old from Linwood College in Christchurch.

She will join 58 other spellers on the stage tomorrow morning (10am Thursday Washington DC or 6pm Friday NZ time)

The Semifinals will be broadcast live on national TV in the United States.

Kate made it to the the Quarterfinals earlier in the day when she got 19 out of 25 in the multiple choice test and correctly spelled the word, eeriness.

Kate's New Zealand accent threw the judging panel when three of the five heard Kate's 'e's" as 'a's'. After a dramatic pause her spelling was accepted.

In the Quarterfinal she correctly spelled infallible and sopite (a latin word for put to sleep).

After the Quarterfinal Kate left the stage with a huge smile on her face. She admitted she did not know the word sopite but thought about what it sounded like before calmly spelling out each letter.

Again the judges paused before confirming her spelling as correct.

Kate says she did not expect to get this far in the competition.

"Not in my wildest dreams. It is so big. It will be amazing to come back tomorrow and be on TV," she says.

Kate's mother, Paula Weir, says when the judges paused a second time she thought this can't be happening.

"This is such a wonderful achievement. I am very proud of her."

Mary Brooks, Head Judge, congratulated Kate after the competition and thanked her for working with them as they get to grips with the New Zealand accent.

Kate plans to get lots of sleep tonight especially as her body is still recovering from the 17 hour flight from New Zealand earlier this week.

This is the 80th Scripps National Spelling Bee and the third time that New Zealand has been represented.

It is the first time that a New Zealand speller has reached the Semifinals.

Janet Lucas, Event Organiser, New Zealand National Spelling Bee, says that Kate's progression through the competition has been incredibly exciting.

"There is a lot of goodwill here for Kate as people seem thrilled to see the New Zealand speller do so well," she says.

The 2007 New Zealand Spelling Bee was supported by The New Zealand Listener, ZM Radio Network, Franklin Electronic Publishers and Plunket.

ENDS

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