"The Amazing Race 17," Episode 3 - Contestants Get Schooled

Last week on "The Amazing Race 17" the mother-daughter team Andie and Jenna were eliminated. Going into week 3 the teams who needed to rise to the challenge are Gary and Mallory, who consistently lag behind; Michael and Greg who are somewhat beset by Michael's age; and Nick and Vicki who seem to struggle to complete each task.

"The Amazing Race" Challenge week 3
The teams were sent to Jamestown in Ghana from Kaneshie market. They had to find a boxing academy where they would recieve their next clue. Team members had to suit up for boxing, learning to wrap their hands and train at the boxing facility before being given their next clue. From the boxing academy they were to go to a supply depot and deliver construction supplies to a primary school.

The teams entered a classroom and were asked questions about African geography. Once they finished their geography class they were given a choice between "Bicycle Parts" and "Language Arts." The easiest would have been "Bicycle Parts," because it involved rolling a bicycle tire with kids. The "Language Arts" challenge was a huge word search in cryptic language.

The Pit stop was found at a farm, not too far away.

How the teams competed on episode 3 of "The Amazing Race 17"

Conner and Jonathan
Conner and Jonathan have done suprisingly well. They always seem to meet challenges along the way, but they are able to sing their way through the challenges of "The Amazing Race 17."

Jonathan and Conner left the boxing facility behind Brook and Claire, but made it through the school challenge and were the onlty team to finish the cryptic word search. They got their act together and managed to finish with time to spare.

Gary and Mallory
Gary and Mallory were more competitive this week , a move they desperately needed. Gary took on the boxing task and they made good time to the supply depot. They also made up time at the elementary school.

Gary and Mallory chose the bicycle wheel challenge, which Gary finished right away while Mallory prayed for help. She finally got the job done, and she and her father were on their way to the pit stop for week 3 of "The Amazing Race 17."

Chad and Stephanie
Chad and Stephaie had a lead on Katie and Rachael once they reached the boxing arena, but Chad tried to show off his jump rope skills and ended up flubbing up. He had to start over once he messed up, which allowed Katie and Rachael to get away from the boxing academy ahead of them.

They made good time at the school and wisely choose the bicycle challenge.

Katie and Rachel
Katie and Rachel were moving along during week 3, until they misread the instructions for the task to take construction supplies to the schools. They lost time, but made it up on the bicycle wheel challenge.

Nick and Vicki
Nick and Vicki fell behind on the construction task when they left some of the supplies out of their wheel barrow. Nick got really ticked with Vicki because it put them in next to last place. Vicki was apologetic, but Nick was a rude horse's rear because Vicki put them behind.

Nick continued to get aggrivated when Vicki had trouble rolling the bicycle tire. He finally calmed down when Vicki started having an allergy attack. His entire attitude and demeanor changed. He even found time to apologize once they finished leg 3 of the race.

Brook and Claire
Brook and Claire are on fire. So far, they seem to be a cohesive and competitive team, and finished first last week.

Their head start on episode 3 gave them a benefit this week, not only that , but Brooke takes boxing lessons and made easy work of the boxing training. She made quick work of the training and the shopping network cohosts were on their way quickly.

Brook and Caire decided to take the language challenge, which they completely misunderstood. They screwed up when they started tracing circles around Ghana school kids in playing in the schoolyard, until they finally figured out that had nothing to do with their challenge. They finally found the huge word search and got to work, but ended up leaving it for the bicycle wheel challenge.

Jill and Thomas
Jill and Thomas still have possession of the Express Pass. Last week they decided they didn't need the pass to stay competitive. Good decision making made up for lost time in week 2 of "The Amazing Race."

Jill and Thomas had a good run during episode 3, but they lost time trying to decipher the language arts challenge. They finally gave up on it and moved to the bicycle

Nat and Kat
Nat and Kat started the race really strong, but they made serious errors last week and this week. They got lost on the way to the boxing facility and were stuck with an uncooperative cab driver. Then, they got a cab that broke down.

Nothing was working in favor of the doctors, despite their ability to work well together they continued to fall further behind the race in week 3. They were running behind all the way to the challenge, but squeaked their way past Michael and Kevin when Michael had trouble with the heat and physical exertion.

Michael and Kevin
Kevin took on the race with a good start. Kevin got them through the boxing challenge, but Michael got sick and tired trying to finish the bicycle tire roll. It was too much for Michael. He hated to do it, but he had to tap out of "The Amazing Race" for medical help.

He refused to quit. Michael and Kevin completed the challenge and headed to the finish regardless of being in last place.

Winner of week 3, leg 3 of "The Amazing Race 17."

Jonathan and Conner pulled of an amazing win on episode 3 of "The Amazing Race," season 17.

Gary and Mallory had a huge turn around from the previous weeks and finished second.

Chad and Stephanie continued their streak of good luck and finished third.

Katie and Rachel finished fourth.

Nick and Vicki finished fifth.

Brook and Claire finished sixth.

Thomas and Jill finished seventh.

Nat and Kate squeaked in as team number eight.

Michael and Kevin finished last, due to Michael's health problems. The best news of week 3 was that even thought Michael and Kevin finished last it was a non-elimination leg of the race. Michael and Kevin are still in the race!

Watch "The Amazing Race 17" next Sunday at 8:00 pm ET, on CBS.

Watch videos of "The Amazing Race" at CBS.com.

Further reading on "The Amazing Race," season 17.

"The Amazing Race," season 17, Meet the Competitors
"The Amazing Race," 17, episode 1 - recap
"The Amazing Race," season 17, episode 2 - recap