Scripps National Spelling Bee Nets 2 Winners

Jairam Hathwar of Corning, New York, and Nihar Janga of Houston, Texas, won.

ByABC News
May 26, 2016, 11:02 PM

— -- Despite the Scripps National Spelling Bee creating new rules this year to try to crown one champion instead of co-champions, the final two spellers Thursday night went the distance as the Bee ran out of words.

The winners of the 89th annual competition -- held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland -- are Jairam Hathwar, 13, of Corning, New York, and Nihar Janga, 11, of Austin, Texas.

The winning words were: Feldenkrais and Gesellschaft

Both champions will receive a $40,000 cash prize, a $2,500 U.S. savings bond and a reference library from Merriam-Webster, $400 worth of Encyclopedia Britannica products, and a trip to New York City, where they will appear on "LIVE with Kelly."

There were 284 contestants total.

Darren Reynolds and Margaret Chadbourn contributed to this report.

Sponsored Content by Taboola