The Black Widow struck again, cruising to victory in the annual 4th of July hot dog eating contest at New York City's Coney Island.
Weighing all of 105 pounds, 43-year-old Sonya Thomas took first prize by eating 40 hot dogs in ten minutes. That's one shy of her 2009 performance, when she noshed 41 dogs.
This was the first year that the Nathan's International Hot Dog Eating Contest was split into a men's and women's division.
"Serena Williams didn't have to beat Roger Federer to win the Wimbledon title, and we don't think Sonya Thomas should have to beat Joey Chestnut," said master of ceremonies George Shea to the A.P. before the event. Thomas will receive $20,000 as a prize for her first title victory at the 4th of July competition.
In second place was Germantown resident Juliet Lee. She was a long way off from the Black Widow, consuming 29 hot dogs in ten minutes.
Major League Eating, the organization of competitive eaters, ranked Sonya Thomas as 5th best in the world.
In the men's contest, reigning champion Joey Chestnut won again, swallowing 62 dogs.
