MIDTOWN — After the gravy, bone, and what was left of 70 pounds of turkey carcasses were cleared, there was one competitive eating winner left standing: 42-year-old, 105-pound Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas.
Thomas, from Alexandria, VA, beat out 42-year-old Eric "Badlands" Booker — an opponent nearly four times her size — by chowing down on 5.25 pounds of turkey in 10 minutes at the Wild Turkey 81 Eating World Championship at the Times Center on Tuesday. Booker ate 4.3 pounds, and Allen "Shredded" Goldstein came in third place by eating just under four pounds.
The contest, sanctioned by Major League Eating, pit seven competitive eaters against one another in a test of their turkey-gobbling ability. The goal was to eat as much of a ten-pound bird as possible within a ten minute time limit.
In addition to sponsoring the event, bourbon-maker Wild Turkey is donating 81 birds to City Harvest, the city's only food rescue organization.
"What can I say? I felt the sting of the Black Widow before," said Booker, referring to Thomas' stage name. "One day I'll get her, but until then, to the victor go the spoils."
Thomas said she was confident in her victory, adding that she was thrilled to have the title of turkey-eating world champion.
"Today I really focused myself to win this contest," said Thomas, who holds 24 eating-related world records, and is ranked as the number four eater in the world by Major League Eating.
"That's enough turkey for today. I'll try to eat Korean food for Thanksgiving."
