Jasmine Siefman

But as she huddled and squeezed hands with three friends, Jasmine learned she was eliminated from competition after judges read off the 94 contestants who advanced.

After two days, she had earned only 14 points, not enough to make it to yesterday's round.

Her long black hair tied back in a ponytail, her brown eyes clear, the Kula, Maui, resident said, "It's kind of a relief. You don't have to worry anymore."

Robert Siefman, Jasmine's dad, added, "It's all good. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Jasmine received $75, a commemorative watch, T-shirt and a $20 gift certificate. She was sponsored by The Honolulu Advertiser.

This year's national competition, held in the Grand Hyatt Washington hotel ballroom, began with 265 spellers ages 9 to 15.

Competitors come from all 50 states and the District of Columbia as well as Europe, Guam, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and American Samoa.

The national champion — who will be determined today — will get $17,000 in cash, an engraved loving cup, a $1,000 U.S. savings bond and other prizes.

Spelling bee enthusiasts pointed out that verbal repetition is important, as is the ability to ask for the root, origins, definition and usage of a word. Jasmine said without those tools, Tuesday's written test was especially challenging. She managed 11 correct words out of 25.

"Some of them, I had never heard before," she said. "It was really hard."

For weeks, Jasmine studied a stack of words and books that stood more than a foot high. Her father, however, said Jasmine's reading habit is what makes her a strong speller.

"She's been an avid reader since she was a 3-year-old," said her father. "I think her love of reading is what got her here."