59th Scripps National Spelling Bee | |
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![]() The
Capital Hilton, site of the 59th National Spelling Bee | |
Date | May 28–29, 1986 |
Location | The Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. |
Winner | Jon Pennington |
Age | 14 |
Residence | Shiremanstown, Pennsylvania |
Sponsor | The Patriot-News |
Sponsor location | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
Winning word | odontalgia |
No. of contestants | 174 [1] |
Pronouncer | Alex Cameron |
Preceded by | 58th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
Followed by | 60th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
The 59th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on May 28–29, 1986, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.
The winner was 14-year-old Jon Pennington of Shiremanstown, Pennsylvania, correctly spelling "odontalgia". [1] [2] Second place went to 13-year-old Kenneth Larson of Tequesta, Florida, who missed "kaolinic". Larson was competing for the third time, having finished 111th in 1985 and 65th in 1984. [1] [3]
There were 174 participants this year (100 girls and 74 boys, ages 9–14), and a total of 725 words used. [1] [4] [5] Nine spellers missed in the first round, 36 in the second, and 14 in the third. [6] 115 spellers made it to day two of the competition, and the final round between the last two spellers began at about 4:40pm. [7] [8] Alex Cameron was the pronouncer. [8]
The first-place winner received $1000 (and other non-cash prizes). Second place got $500, and third received $250. Fourth through eighth places received $100, the next ten received $75, and the remaining 156 spellers received $50 each. [8]