8 kids make history by becoming co-champions of the Scripps National Spelling Bee

This was a Scripps National Spelling Bee for the history books.

On Thursday night in Maryland, eight competitors were named co-champions of the bee, the first time more than two contestants have won the event. Three hours into the finals, the kids were told there were only enough words left for three more rounds, and those who made it to the very end would share the title. After they spelled words like "erysipelas," "bougainvillea," and "aiguillette," the bee ended in an eight-way tie.

The winners, all between the ages of 12 and 14, are: Rishik Gandhasri, Erin Howard, Saketh Sundar, Shruthika Padhy, Sohum Sukhatankar, Abhijay Kodali, Christopher Serrao, and Rohan Raja. Each winner will receive $50,000 in cash and will appear on talk shows in Los Angeles and New York City.

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