Can you name the crystalline glycosidic acid with the chemical composition C42- H62-O16? Better yet, can you spell it? A seventh-grader from Clarksville Middle School took his best shot at it during last weeks Scripps National Spelling Bee. The word “glycyrrhizin” ended Saketh Sundar’s run for the title and $40,000 prize.

Saketh, 12, was tied for 17th place after making it to the seventh round at the 91st annual spelling bee before being eliminated for misspelling glycyrrhizin, according to the spelling bee.

This was not Saketh’s first national spelling bee. In 2017, Saketh tied for 12th place and in the 2016 competition he tied for 41st place. For this year’s competition, he was sponsored by the Howard County Public Library.

Saketh was joined by another Howard County student, Veer Tuliani, 11. They took the national stage with more than 500 student spellers from across the country to compete for the coveted title.

The national competition took place at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor in Prince George’s County.

Veer, a sixth-grader at Wilde Lake Middle School, was eliminated in the second round after misspelling “hesperid.” Wilde Lake sponsored Veer for the competition.