SCRIPPS SPELLING BEE: Jamaican Tajaun Gibbison advances to semi-final

Tajaun Gibbison, 13, of Mandeville, Jamaica, participates in round three of the preliminaries of the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 28, 2014 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. – Pete Marovich

The Gleaner’s Children’s Own Spelling Bee champion, Tajaun Gibbison has advanced to the semi-final of the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition now underway in Washington DC.

The semi-final round begins at 6 o’clock this evening Jamaica time and will feature only 46 of the 281 spellers who started out.

“I’m pretty confident with my performance,” Gibbison had earlier said.

Like the preliminaries, the semi-finals will comprise a computer-based test and two rounds of spelling on stage.

Tajaun who wears number 87, had correctly spelt the word P-A-P-I-L-L-O-N in round three.

With 281 spellers competing for the title, the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee will end tomorrow.

Ten Jamaicans have made it to the semi-final of the competition over the years.