'The Amazing Race' eliminates former 'Survivor' couple Keith Tollefson and Whitney Duncan

The Amazing Race eliminated Keith Tollefson and Whitney Duncan during Friday night's fifth broadcast of the CBS reality competition's 25th season. 


The "Engaged Couple" and former Survivor castaways from Boston, MA, became the fourth team eliminated from the around-the-world competition after they arrived at the Race's fifth Pit Stop at Al Matjar Carpet Shop in Marrakech, Morocco, in last place.

"We had a horrible day. Everything pretty much just fell apart. But it definitely was worth postponing the wedding to be on the Race," Whitney explained. "Everything in this Race confirmed why we're right for each other."

"She's the only one who can put up with me, so it works out," Keith joked.

"And he's the only one that can put up with me," Whitney added.


"Perfect," Keith said.

The fifth episode of The Amazing Race's 25th season began with "Urban Bike Racers" Kym Perfetto and Alli Forsythe leaving the fourth Pit Stop in first place at 9:48PM.  

Kym and Alli were then followed by "Dating Pro Wrestlers" Brooke Adams and Robbie E. Strauss at 12:18AM, Keith and Whitney at 12:22AM, "Food Scientists" Amy DeJong and Maya Warren at 12:37AM, "College Sweethearts" Tim Tsao and Te Jay McGrath at 1AM, "Mother and Daughter" Shelley Porter and Nici Porter at 1:59AM, "Married Surfers" Bethany Hamilton and Adam Dirks at 2:19AM, and "Married Dentists" Misti Raman and Jim Raman at 2:29AM.

The teams' first set of clues instructed them to fly more than 2,000 miles from Europe to Marrakech in Northern Africa. After touching down, they must search the marketplace called Jemaa El-Fnaa for the food cart garage, where they'd find their next clue.

The first available flight didn't leave until 8:25AM the following morning, so Kym and Alli lost their lead on the other teams.


While waiting in the airport, Misti and Jim told everyone they had experienced a non-elimination leg and therefore didn't need to use their "Save," which will prevent them from going home if they finish a future leg in last place. They hoped it would stop other teams from U-Turning them, because if they couldn't be ousted, it might be a waste -- unless the teams wanted to flush the "Save."

After landing, Shelley and Nici made a deal with their cab driver to stick with them for $100 an hour.

Most teams got to the cluebox at the same time and ambushed it.

The teams then had to help local food vendors roll out their restaurants and set up shop, which was a daily routine for all the carts. They also learned there would be a U-Turn board ahead.

Once Misti and Jim arrived at the food-vendor task, they learned they had to complete a Speed Bump task before moving forward as a consequence for finishing the prior non-elimination leg in last place.


For the Speed Bump, Misti and Jim were instructed to gather eight rugs from a carpet shop and use a pole to carefully hook them on a wire strung along the walls of a nearby hotel, displaying them for sale. Misti and Jim really struggled with the task and grew frustrated.

Keith and Whitney set up their vendor's cart in first place. They were then followed by Kym and Alli, Brooke and Robbie, Shelley and Nici, Amy and Maya, Adam and Bethany, Tim and Te Jay, and finally Misti and Jim, who were about 12 minutes behind the other teams at this point.

The teams then had to make their way on foot to the old city of Bab Debbagh Tannery and look for their next clue.

Keith and Whitney got lost in the streets and called it "a rat maze." However, they were still the first team to make it to the tannery. They were then followed by Amy and Maya, Brooke and Robbie, Adam and Bethany, Tim and Te Jay, Kym and Alli, Shelley and Nici, and Misti and Jim.

It then became time for one member from each team to complete a Roadblock task.


For the Roadblock, the Racers had to finish preparing skins by scraping and pulling the hair off three hydes and then deliver three bundles of prepared hyde by bicycle to a nearby cobbler. Once the shoemaker received the leather he needed for slippers, the Racers would return to the tannery and then earn their next clue.

The following people opted to do the Roadblock on behalf of their teams: Amy, Keith, Bethany, Brooke, Kym, Misti, Nici, and Tim.

Keith and Whitney finished the Roadblock in first place and they were soon followed by Shelley and Nici and Brooke and Robbie. The rest of the finishing order was not clear although Amy and Maya finished in seventh place and Tim and Te Jay completed the task in eighth place.

Keith claimed Shelley and Nici pushed him when the two teams were fighting to receive their next clue. The girls yelled at him in return, saying Whitney needed to be at his side in order to receive the clue. Whitney, however, insisted she was standing right behind them the whole time.

The teams then learned they must make their way to Ben Youssef Medersa and search for their next clue.


Adam and Bethany got there before any of the other teams. They were then followed by Kym and Alli, Brooke and Robbie, Shelley and Nici, Keith and Whitney, Misti and Jim, Amy and Maya, and finally Tim and Te Jay.

The teams then had to complete one of two possible Detour tasks: "Twirl Time" or "Tea Time."

"Twirl Time" required the teams to dress as street performers and play musical instruments. One team member had to twirl a tassel on his or her hat while using a clapper. The other team member had to play the drums. If the team could twirl the tassel and keep the beat for one consecutive minute, they'd receive their next clue. 

"Tea Time" required the teams to carry a heavy Moroccan tea set to a restaurant. One team member had to use a single arm to balance a tray full of glasses while the other team member performed a traditional pour. When they served correctly, they'd receive their next clue.

Kym and Alli, Shelley and Nici, Amy and Maya, and Keith and Whitney opted to take on the "Twirl Time" task. Adam and Bethany, Tim and Te Jay, Misti and Jim, and Brooke and Robbie wanted to try the tea task.

Keith and Whitney struggled greatly, and while Whitney was desperate to change tasks, Keith shot the idea down. However, after a long time of failed attempts, the couple decided to quit and try the tea task. They ended up succeeding.


As a result, Adam and Bethany finished the Detour task in first place, and they were soon followed by Kym and Alli, Shelley and Nici, Tim and Te Jay, Misti and Jim, Brooke and Robbie, Amy and Maya, and Keith and Whitney.

The teams were then instructed to make their way to Le Grand Balcon Du Cafe Glacier and search for their next clue. This is where the U-Turn board awaited the eight teams.

Kym and Alli got their first and chose not to U-Turn anybody. Adam and Bethany got their next and also declined to take advantage of the opportunity. Shelley and Nici then arrived at Le Grand Balcon Du Cafe Glacier and chose to U-Turn Keith and Whitney.

Shelley and Nici accused Keith and Whitney of "playing dirty." The girls therefore thought the couple was going to experience some karma.

Four more teams then arrived at the U-Turn board and opted out of U-Turning anyone.

The teams were Tim and Te Jay, Brooke and Robbie, Misti and Jim, and Amy and Maya. Keith and Whitney got to the destination in last place and realized they had been U-Turned. They regretted fighting with Shelley and Nici and then went back to the musical instruments-task. It apparently took them two hours and nine minutes to complete it.


The teams' next set of clues sent them directly to the Pit Stop at Al Matjar Carpet Shop.

Kym and Alli met The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan on the Pit Stop mat in first place. For finishing the leg before any of the other teams, Kym and Alli each won themselves $5,000.

Adam and Bethany claimed second place, and Tim and Te Jay arrived at the mat in third place.

Fourth place went to Shelley and Nici, and they were soon followed by Brooke and Robbie in fifth, Misti and Jim in sixth place, Amy and Maya in seventh, and finally Keith and Whitney in eighth -- and last -- place.

"It hurts," Keith noted.

"Yup, it sucks," Whitney said.


"It's hard when you're competitive and you lose," Keith added.

"Yeah, if we just picked the other Detour, we probably could've been first and win that honeymoon!" Whitney told Phil.

"We'll just have to pay for it now," Keith said.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski