Only one of Missouri’s seven entrants in the National Spelling Bee remains after six rounds. The contest resumes tonight in Washington, D. C.
Five Missouri contestants dropped out in the first four rounds. St. Louis speller Caroline Rouse made it through today’s fifth round by spelling "beccafico," a European bird that is considered a table delicacy. Connor Spencer of Independence advanced with "oroporphyrin," a byproduct of hemaglobin formation.
Spencer survived round six with "amphipneustic," which refers to the location of respiratory organs on certain insect larvae, but Rouse fell out of the competition on the word "cyclazocine," an analgesic drug that is used in treatments of drug addiction.
Spencer is one of 14 contestants remaining. The championship rounds begin at 7 p.m. CDT on ABC.
Spellcheck was used with this article but it did not know some of the words either.