A 10-year-old Clovis girl is representing New Mexico in the National Spelling Bee this week.
Ariel Kokoricha is a fifth grader at Clovis Christian School.
She beat 39 other spellers to win a four-hour competition at Sandia Prep on May 18.
Ariel flew with her family Saturday to Washington, D.C., for the two-day National Spelling Bee that begins Wednesday.
To get ready to compete against 280 other spellers, Ariel uses a dictionary app on her iPad, an audio pronunciation guide, an online study tool and a spreadsheet she created.
For the first time this year, participants have to know not only the spelling but the definition of the word.
The Albuquerque Journal says Ariel began spelling competitions when she was 8 and has already competed in 10 events.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.