Semifinals get under way at National Spelling Bee

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OXON HILL, Md. (AP) -- The semifinals of the 84th Scripps National Spelling Bee are under way.

Forty-one spellers took the stage Thursday morning to compete for the title. They were the youngsters remaining after two days of competition that whittled the field down from 275.

The champion will be crowned Thursday night and will receive more than $40,000 in cash and prizes.

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SEMIFINALISTS FROM FLORIDA:

Speller No. 38, Grace Remmer
The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, Florida
Age 12, 6th grade
School: Home School
Hometown: St. Augustine, Florida

Speller No. 40, Claire Zuo
The Miami Herald, Miami, Florida
Age 12, 7th grade
School: Palmetto Middle School
Hometown: Palmetto Bay, Florida

Speller No. 42, Stuti Mishra
Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Florida
Age 13, 7th grade
School: Holy Trinity Episcopal Acadamy
Hometown: West Melbourne, Florida