Photos for Headline Surfer® /MELBOURNE, Fla. -- Mary Horton, 13, of West Melbourne, spelled her way into the finals of the National Spelling Bee on May 29, in National Harbor, Md., but she finished in a tie for fifth and when all was said and done, among the top 12 contestants overall after flubbing the word "aetites."
Still, though, the Orlando metro newspaper's shining example of smartness showed she could stand up to the pressures of the national spotlight with the spelling bee carried in prime time on ESPN with zany video vignettes of the participants, including Horton showcasing her tiger-striped painted fingernails and her photos of family members, plants and cats.
Even though she didn't win it all, Horton was ecstatic about representing Central Florida after winning the Orlando Sentinel District Spelling Bee for a second year, telling the newspaper, "I tried my hardest," adding, "and that's pretty much all I can do." During the finals, Horton was on a roll, correctly spelling "tapotement," "guillemet," "logodaedaly" and "shibuichi."
Mary Horton, 13, of West Melbourne, is shown here after her showing in the national spelling bee contest broadcast on ESPN. She finished fifth overall.
Even though she didn't win it all, Horton was ecstatic about representing Central Florida after winning the Orlando Sentinel District Spelling Bee for a second year, telling the newspaper, "I tried my hardest," adding, "and that's pretty much all I can do." During the finals, Horton was on a roll, correctly spelling "tapotement," "guillemet," "logodaedaly" and "shibuichi."
Mary Horton's showing in the national spelling bee comes in at No. 69 in the HeadlineSurfer.com countdown of the top 100 stories of 2014.
Horton was awarded $2,500 for her 5th place finish. Before she exited the stage after stumbling on the final word that saw her finish out of the championship, Horton was gracious in bowing out, saying, ""Thank you, everybody!"
For the first time since 1962, the spelling bee saw the awarding of co-champions, Sriram Hathwar, 14, of Painted Post, N.Y., and Ansun Sujoe, 13, of Fort Worth, Texas, having gone toe-to-toe on word challenges until there were none left for them to compete for in the time allotted in the ESPN airing in prime time.
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The Headline Surfer® Countdown of the Top 100 Stories of 2014, is sponsored by Edgewater Towing & Myron's Auto Service of Edgewater, FL. 