Friday will spell victory for one final contestant at the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee.

There are 45 semifinalists still in the running, winnowed down from the 288 children who started Thursday. The first day included a familiar mix of comical and nerve-wracking moments, as kids ranging in age from 8 to 15 tackled words like "ambuscade" and "Manhattanese."

Among the returning favorites are Tia Thomas and Matthew Evans, a pair of home-schooled 13-year-olds renewing a rivalry that began four years ago. They are the only five-time repeaters at this year's bee.

ESPN will again broadcast Friday's semifinals, and Friday's two-hour finals will be aired live in prime time on ABC for the third consecutive year.