Arkansas girl, 10, advances at National Spelling Bee

Pavani Chittemsetty of Bentonville competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
Pavani Chittemsetty of Bentonville competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

UPDATE

Ten-year-old Pavani Chittemsetty of Bentonville correctly spelled "geotropic" in the third round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Pavani will learn later Wednesday if she makes the finals, which are set for Thursday.

Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

EARLIER

Arkansas' only representative at the Scripps National Spelling Bee has advanced to the third round.

Pavani Chittemsetty, 10, of Bentonville correctly spelled the word "threnody" — a song or poem expressing sorrow for someone who is dead, according to Merriam-Webster — in the second round Wednesday morning at the national competition in Washington, D.C. Pavani said afterward that she had gotten an "easy word."

[QUIZ: Test your spelling with words from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Spelling Bee]

Pavani reached the national bee by winning the Benton County Spelling Bee in January — her second consecutive win at that level — and the Arkansas bee in March. She spelled "brigadier" correctly at the state bee to clinch her first trip to Washington.

Pavani, a fourth-grader at Elm Tree Elementary School, will compete in the third round of the bee Wednesday afternoon. The finals begin Thursday.

Reporters Frank Lockwood and Dave Perozek contributed to this story.

Upcoming Events