KEY POINTS:
Hamilton 13-year-old Thomas North was eliminated from the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC yesterday.
Thomas is reported to have stumbled over the word meniscus, a crescent moon or the curved upper surface of a column of water, in the preliminary round of the event.
An upset Thomas - the fourth to represent New Zealand at the US spelling bee - was consoled by his mother.
Of the 288 entrants 90 advance to the quarter-finals.
New Zealand Spelling Bee organiser Janet Lucas said while Thomas was clearly disappointed, it was a huge achievement to even get to the United States event.
New Zealand was one of 10 countries outside of the US to send entrants. The spelling bee runs over two days, finishing today.
Thomas was named New Zealand's spelling bee champion in March, correctly spelling flotilla after a 22-round competition.
- NZPA
