<i> Antediluvian </i> Orthographized by 7th-Grader to Win Bee

Ned G. Andrews, a seventh-grader from Knoxville, Tenn., spelled his way to glory Thursday in his third appearance at the National Spelling Bee.

“I feel great,” Ned, 13, said after correctly spelling antediluvian, meaning ancient, or dating to before the biblical flood.

He gave much of the credit for his win to his mother, Carolyn, an editor. “I don’t have a professional coach but my mom coaches me and she ought to be paid,” he said, grinning broadly.

Ned lasted 15 rounds over two days to win the annual spelldown. He successfully spelled dyskinesia, (characterized by involuntary motions), proboscis (snout) and naiad (nymph). These were just a few of the 1,068 words spelled during the bee.

The second-place winner, Brian Kane Lee, was also making his third appearance at a national spelling bee. Brian, 12, of Minot, N.D., was done in by parvenuism, which means to behave like one who has risen above the station to which he was born.

Third place went to Anthony Chuang, 14, of Ft. Worth. He was stopped by his 13th word, psalmodist, a composer of sacred songs.

Ned won $5,000; Brian, $4,000, and Anthony, $2,500.

The second day of competition began with 152 spellers still in contention. After nearly nine hours Thursday, only 20 still had their equipoise (balance), successfully spelling everything from quiddity, (a trifling point) to plectrum (a small piece of material used to pluck stringed instruments).