photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Maci Perrins, a seventh-grader at Southwest Middle School in Lawrence, represented Douglas County at the state spelling bee Saturday in Salina, where she tied for fourth place.

This story was updated at 8:43 p.m., Saturday, March 21.

Maci Perrins, a seventh-grader at Southwest Middle School in Lawrence, represented Douglas County at the state spelling bee Saturday in Salina and finished within the top 5.

A four-time champion of the Douglas County bee, Maci outlasted most of the competition from around Kansas on Saturday, making it to the second to last round and tying for fourth place overall.

Maci is the daughter of Kristi and Erik Perrins.

“We’re very proud of her,” Erik said after the competition.

Elementary and middle school students are eligible to compete at the state level if they win their county-level competitions.

Maci’s championship performance in the Douglas County bee last month marked the sixth time that a member of her family had won the local bee. She’s believed to be the all-time leader in Douglas County spelling bee wins.

Last year at state, Maci tied for second. She has one more year to compete in the state bee for a chance to qualify for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The Douglas County bee is organized by the Lawrence Journal-World, while the state event is hosted by the Kansas Press Association.

Kellian Peterson of Ottawa County won this year’s bee with the word “ossificatory.”