‘Black Widow’ wins hot dog-eating contest with 36

By Kathy Adams

The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK

Sonya Thomas ate 36 hot dogs for lunch Saturday and still had room for more.

The meal, consumed in 10 minutes during a competition at MacArthur Center, earned Thomas the title of Virginia Hot Dog Eating Champion for the third time, contest host Richard Shea said.

Her reaction: "I'm so disappointed."

The 100-pound 41-year-old from Alexandria said she'd hoped to beat her personal record, and the Virginia record, of 39.

"You know, I'm not really that full," she said. "But we're eating so fast, it can make me sick. I could eat more if we had more time."

Thomas still ate more than twice as many as anyone else, crushing her 15 male competitors, consistent with her nickname, "The Black Widow." She's the world's top female eater, Shea said.

The competitors downed nearly 300 hot dogs Saturday, Shea said, using various strategies. Some ate slow and steady. Some crammed them in, two at a time. Some jumped up and down and shimmied as they chewed.

None bothered with mustard.

Thomas had her own style. She ripped the hot dogs in half, dunked them in water and shoved them into her mouth. She won $100 and an all-expense-paid trip to New York City to compete in the July 4 international competition at Coney Island. Thomas has been there every year since 2003, Shea said.

Norfolk has hosted the Virginia contest, sponsored by Nathan's Famous Inc., for seven years, said Shea, president of Major League Eating, a New York-based sports franchise that oversees competitive eating events.

Nathan Handwerker started the nosh fest July 4, 1916, and it's been an annual Independence Day tradition at Coney Island ever since. People from all over the world compete, with the finals nationally televised.

Carson Hughes Jr. competed Saturday in his father's honor. Carson "Collard Green" Hughes Sr. was a longtime competitive eater. He died in December.

"I was here for him because he loved to do it," said Hughes Jr., who ate 8-1/2 hot dogs. "He just got a little kick out of it. He always had a big smile on his face when he did it."

All the competitors kept their hot dogs down Saturday, at least while they were on stage.

Virginia Beach's Joe Tursi came in second, eating 16-1/2 dogs. The 42-year-old construction worker said he's been eating competitively for four years. His strategy: Fast for a few days, drink lots of water and focus, he said.

"I just enjoy food," he said. "And I've always been the kind of person who eats fast."

What happens after you eat 16 hot dogs?

"I'll go home and relax, and yeah, it gets a little tight around the tummy," Tursi said. "And little by little, it makes its way out."

Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com