Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo are again "chompions" at annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
NEW YORK - It was a showdown between competitive eaters and Mother Nature at Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
The women were up first, the dunking and devouring the dogs as endless as the crowd at the corner of Stillwell and Surf Avenue.
Miki Sudo holds the women's record with 48.5 hot dogs and buns consumed in 10 minutes. On her left on the dais was her stiffest competition – Mayoi Ebihara – who dances dogs down.
The rest of the field slowly consumed the all-American meat, while they feasted eyes on the leaders. The competition was too close to call, without close inspection.
With 39.5 choked down, the winner once again was Miki Sudo.
Eric "Badlands" Booker took to the stage to entertain the masses.
The procession of flags didn't disappoint, but mother nature certainly did. Rain fell by the bucketful while lightning lit up the sky. The crowd ducked for cover - the eaters did too, since soggy buns are unacceptable for competition.
Storms eventually rolled out.
"We got here at the onset of the torrential downpour, but we said we're not going to leave," Matteo DiMayorca said. "We want to witness history."
The crowd hoped Joey Chestnut will beat his current world record of 76.
"I used a walker because I want to see Joey win," Marie Marshall said.
"I've ben watching this on TV every year since I was 16," said Mike Lizarraga. "Joey Chestnut's got it."
After more than a hour rain delay, the got to bear witness to Chestnut chugging, beards muddled with goo, and play-by-play from George Shea.
"Joey Chestnut, last year, was interrupted by a protestor and got him in a chokehold. He's an American hero," Shea said.
It was everything the crowd hoped for, but in the end, Chestnut fell far short of his record - but still claimed victory.
"Oh man, I'm sorry guys," Chestnut said. "It got hard."
He vows to return next year. As will CBS New York. No way we'd miss out on this 4th of July tradition.
The contest dates back to 1916.