Fourth-grader wins contest

After 24 rounds and more than an hour of spelling Saturday, Rachael Cundey paused, not realizing she had won until the audience applauded and her family embraced her.

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Chris Thelen/Staff

Rachael Cundey, 10, hugs her father, Heath, as her sister, Sarah, dashes over to celebrate Rachael's victory at the regional spelling bee at The Augusta Chronicle . As the winner of Saturday's contest, Rachael will head to the national competition in Washington, D.C., in May.

The 10-year-old South Columbia Elementary School fourth-grader outlasted 11 opponents to be named the 2009 Scripps Howard Spelling Bee regional champion at The Augusta Chronicle .

Winners of local competitions were vying for the opportunity to advance to the national level.

Rachael successfully spelled 22 words, including the winning word, "oblivion," to earn an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in May in Washington D.C. Among the other words she spelled correctly were fennel, mercurial, linden and meistersinger.

Rachael said she didn't have a strategy, but she did study the spellings of 1,150 words. She also credited her love of reading.

"I just couldn't be more proud," her father, Heath Cundey, said afterward. "Her biggest thing is she is a voracious reader."

Mother Tammy Cundey said Rachael began reading at age 3 and by third grade was reading on a college level.

The competition was whittled down to Rachael and Brandy Bonczek of Edgefield County by the 10th round, but the two lasted for twice that long.

Rachael won a $500 savings bond and a dictionary in addition to the Washington trip. Brandy earned the second-place prize of a $200 savings bond. Jazzmin Smoot of Langford Middle School in Richmond County placed third and received a $100 savings bond.

Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.