THOSE WHO wanted to see repeat winners in The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee competition would have been disappointed had they come to St James yesterday.

Last year's winner, Anphernee Wilson, proved a little hesitant and dropped out at number four to give way to a new champ, fresh-faced darling Adriena Cribb.

Nine-year-old Adriena had one phrase for how she felt after winning at the Burchell Baptist Church Hall - "super elated".

So, too, was her mother, Latoya Johnson, reporter with the RJR Communications Group, and numerous others who were enamoured by the little girl's winsome personality.

She was 12th last year, Adriena said, and she remembered that she "fell out on the word i-r-o-n-y".

But this year, she was ready to take it all the way.

"I practise in the morning, in the nights and when I'm at school," the sixth-grader shared with The Gleaner.

Her coach, Ann-Marie Jamieson-Harty, teacher at Eber Preparatory, supported her story of hard work.

"The week before competition, they get the week off from regular classwork and homework to concentrate on spelling," she said, adding that they had only resumed coaching in September.

During these coaching sessions, the champ is taught to "see the words, ask for the meaning even if I already know it, see the word again and then spell in syllables".

Very flexible

The ever-pleasant Adriena, however, is not solely focused on spelling

"She's very flexible. She's not easily stressed and she is involved in many different activities at the same time," her coach revealed.

The little footballer explained that though she was confident yesterday, "anxiety was taking over".

To quell her anxiety, she said she would "normally drink a lot" during the breaks.

And during the break between the parish and national finals, Adriena has a planned strategy.

"Well, it's back to studying and more studying and studying again," she explained.

- T .M.

Number of schools: 30

Number of spellers: 50

Overall champion: Adriena Cribb

Champion boy: Remekie Rose

Winning word: R-E-B-E-L-L-I-O-U-S

Winning school: Eber Preparatory

Top five

1. Adriena Cribb, Eber Preparatory

2. Krystal Keer, Barracks Road Primary

3. Remekie Rose, Barracks Road Primary

4. Anphernee Wilson, Herbert Morrison Technical High

5. Jodiann Smith, Supreme Preparatory