'The Amazing Race' Racers Nicole "Nicky" Getz and Kim DeJesus survive non-elimination leg

The Amazing Race teammates Nicole "Nicky" Getz and Kim DeJesus survived to compete in the 23rd season's next leg despite a last-place finish during Sunday night's broadcast of the CBS reality competition's seventh leg.


The "Baseball Wives" arrived at the Race's seventh Pit Stop at the Champions Podium in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates in last place but were told by The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan it was a non-elimination leg.

"There's a lot of mixed emotions. We're really happy that we're still here but disappointed in ourselves. We need to get a little bit more fire under our butts and figure out how we can get into the front of the pack again," Nicky said upon learning her team would not be ousted.

The seventh episode of The Amazing Race's 23rd edition began with the Race's six remaining teams leaving the sixth Pit Stop at The Gloriette, the centerpiece of the Schonbrunn Palace's garden in Poland.

"Married ER Doctors" Nicole Jasper and Travis Jasper departed the garden in first place at 12:03PM. Following Nicole and Travis were Nicky and Kim at 12:09PM, "Cousins" Leo Temory and Jamal Zadran at 12:10PM, "Exes" Timothy Sweeney and Marie "Reebs" Mazzocchi at 12:23PM, "Dating Couple" Jason Case and Amy Diaz at 12:28PM, and "LA Kings Ice Crew Girls" Allison "Ally" Mello and Ashley Covert at 1:00PM.


The teams' first set of clues instructed them to fly to Abu Dhabi, and upon landing, find the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, a monument to unite Islamic culture. Once there, they'd receive their next clue.

Leo and Jamal, the "Afghanimals," scored the final seats on a flight that would arrive in Abu Dhabi at 5:50AM. All of the other teams bought tickets for the next available flight, which got into the city only 10 minutes later than Jamal and Leo's flight at 6AM.

Leo and Jamal were therefore the first team to arrive at the Mosque. They were then followed by Jason and Amy, Ally and Ashley, Nicky and Kim, Tim and Marie, and Nicole and Travis.

After receiving their next set of clues, the teams took off to the Irani Souk. Leo and Jamal got their first, and they were soon followed by Ally and Ashley, Jason and Amy, Nicole and Travis, Tim and Marie, and Nicky and Kim.

It then became time for the teams to complete one of two Detour tasks: "Sort it Out" or "Sew it Up."


"Sort it Out" required the teams to search through an overwhelming variety of colorful dates, which were pastries of different textures that looked very similar to one another, and pick out the right ones. Then, copying an example, the teams had to assemble an elaborate display to receive their next clue.

"Sew it Up" required the teams to make a traditional fishing net. Once the captain felt the net was ready for use, they'd receive their next clue.

Leo and Jamal, Ally and Ashley, Nicky and Kim, and Tim and Marie all opted to take on the "Sort it Out" task. Jason and Amy and Nicole and Travis were the only teams to attempt "Sew it Up."

Tim and Marie bickered per usual while sorting out their dates. The other teams couldn't stand to listen to their arguing, and Leo and Jamal noted they felt bad for Tim, as Marie was "manhandling" him.

During the task, Leo and Jamal couldn't find a specific date they needed, so they asked for Nicky and Kim's help. Nicky and Kim declined working with the two men in hopes they wouldn't be able to find their missing pastries. However, Leo and Jamal soon discovered where they were.


Meanwhile, Travis was getting very frustrated putting together their fishing net because Nicole had apparently tied some knots incorrectly, which resulted in Travis having to redo them. The pair worked furiously in the heat and Nicole apologized to her husband for making the time-consuming mistake.

Nicole and Travis briefly considered using their Express Pass but decided not to since they figured they were still probably ahead of some of the other teams. They were also close to finishing the task.

Jason and Amy were the first team to complete the Detour task. They were then followed by Leo and Jamal, Nicole and Travis, Tim and Marie, Ally and Ashley, and Nicky and Kim -- who couldn't nail the correct order of the dates.

The teams were then instructed to take a very quick luxury cruise on a yacht from the Al Bandar Marina to the Yas Marina, where they'd discover their next clue.

Nicky and Kim missed the yacht some of the teams before them had managed to grab by only a matter of seconds. Ally and Ashley and Tim and Marie laughed at the girls' misfortune.


Leo and Jamal, still in the lead, arrived at the Yas Marina before any of the other teams. Jason and Amy got to the clue box next, and they were soon followed by Nicole and Travis, Ally and Ashley, Tim and Marie, and finally Nicky and Kim.

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

For the Roadblock dubbed "Drop and Drive," the team members were required to drop 200 feet off the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi and then get into a race car with a professional driver and take a speedy lap around the track circuit. While racing, the team members had to keep their eyes peeled in order to spot a poster with the name of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix record holder and his record time.

The correct answer was Sebastian Vettel with a time of 1:40:279, but if a team member guessed incorrectly, they'd have to take the lap again and again until getting it right.

Leo, Jason, Travis, Ally, Marie, and Kim all tried the Roadblock task on behalf of their teams. Jason got the name of the driver right but kept forgetting his time, so he had to do the task multiple times. Ally and Kim struggled to remember what they needed as well. For awhile, Ally was confused about what she was even asked to do.


Leo and Jamal finished the task in first place, and they were then followed by Jason and Amy, Nicole and Travis, Tim and Marie, Ally and Ashley, and Nicky and Kim.

The teams then made their way to the leg's Pit Stop, the Champions Podium.

Leo and Jamal met Phil on the Pit Stop mat in first place. As a reward for completing the leg before any of the other teams, the guys won a trip for two to Paris, France.

Jason and Amy then arrived in second place and they were surprisingly disappointed. The couple noted it marked the fourth time they had finished a leg in second place and they felt they were due a first-place finish.

Nicole and Travis then checked-in to the Pit Stop in third place and Tim and Marie subsequently claimed fourth place.

Ally and Ashley arrived at the Pit Stop next, making them the fifth-place team. Nicky and Kim then met Phil in sixth -- and last -- place. They both started to cry but were given some great news.


"Unfortunately, you are the last team to arrive," Phil told the girls.

"Thought so," Kim said as her eyes filled with tears. "It just stinks that -- I'm a mom, I don't get to do stuff like this with my friends. It's just like all of these memories that we're making together have just been the best thing I ever could have asked for."

"You're going to make me cry," Nicky said.

"It's just a really, really cool experience, and I feel so thankful that we [had it]," Kim explained, placing her hands over her face as she cried.

"Well how would you like the opportunity to create more memories?" Phil asked the team.

Both girls stared at the host with their mouths open and seemed to be in shock.


"I am pleased to tell you that this is a non-elimination leg," Phil continued, "And you are still in the Race."

"I'm so happy right now!" Nicky noted.

"I thought we were going home!" Kim added.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski