Chestnut, Sudo Champions Again At Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/CBS News) -- Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo were crowned the winners once again this Fourth of July at the 101st Annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island in Brooklyn.
CBS2's Magdalena Doris was there.
On the men's side, Joey "Jaws" Chestnut ate 72 hot dogs in 10 minutes to defend his title against the only competitor to beat him in the last 10 years -- Matt "Megatoad" Stonie. Chestnut beat his own record of 70.
It was Chestnut's 10th win, and he felt hungry for more afterward.
"I feel pretty good. I have room for more," he said. "I slowed down more than I wanted to. I wanted to eat more."
Chestnut had been the reigning champion and favorite heading into the competition.
"Next year, if I come back, you can bet I'll be pushing harder," Chestnut told ESPN2 shortly after winning the event. "I treat competitive eating like a sport, it's not like going to a buffet, I'm not a buffet buster. I train, I fast, I tape my practices and try to figure out how to improve. I make my body work for me and I've been really lucky for how its performed."
Carmen Cincotti finished the competition in second place with 68 hot dogs, while Stonie placed in third with 48.
For the women competitors, Miki Sudo, 20 -- weighing in at 126 pounds -- ate 41 hot dogs to win for the fourth time. She beat the 98 pounder "The Black Widow" Sonya Thomas.
"I'm so full. I've got 41 hot dogs plus liquid sitting in me, so a little uncomfortable," Sudo said.\
Michelle Lesco came in second place with 32.5 hot dogs. Sonya "Black Widow" Thomas finished the competition in third. She still holds the women's contest record of 45 dogs and buns.
The competitors were on a mission to down as many hot dogs possible while the crowd watched in excitement -- and, at times, in horror.
Loyal fans donned hot dog hats as they waited to see who could stomach the pressure and who would falter.
In the men's competition, Joey "Jaws" Chestnut is defending his title against the only competitor to beat him in the last 10 years -- Matt "Megatoad" Stonie.
At noon, spectators were placing their bets and sizing themselves up against the greats.
"I think if you're really hungry, like you can eat a lot of hot dogs, and if you're like a little bit smaller it makes it easier," said Riley of Maui.
Doris asked some competitors about their strategy.
"All about dipping it in the water," said a man in a mustard costume.
"It has to be flavored – with raspberry lemonade; stuff you can get from the store," added a man in a ketchup costume.
