Quick Bites: The Jacksonville Krystal Square Off V Qualifier
August 28th, 2008 Posted in Qualifying Tour
Takeru Kobayashi made his Krystal debut at the Jacksonville Qualifier in November of 2004. It remains his only qualifier appearance to this day.
The seven-city qualifying circuit for the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship makes its way to Jacksonville this Labor Day to decide who will represent the state and compete for an unprecedented $50,000 cash purse at this year’s World Championship in Chattanooga on September 28, which will be televised live on FSN South. Below we have some quick bites of info for you to chew on between now and then. Enjoy.
Contest Bites:
- The Jacksonville Qualifier will take place on Monday, Sept. 1, at the Jacksonville Landing. For directions to the Landing, go here.
- Registration is now closed for Jacksonville, however five amateur hopefuls will be selected on the spot to compete. Those wishing to be selected can register on site starting at 1:00 p.m.
- The 8-minute contest will start at 2:00 p.m.
- Sonya Thomas brings with her to Jacksonville this Labor Day a 4-0 Krystal and 12-0 lifetime qualifier record. Her Krystal best is 62.
- Hall Hunt, whose best is 51 Krystals, is the defending Jacksonville Qualifier champ.
- Hunt will appear on the WJXT TV Morning Show tomorrow, Friday, in the 8:00 a.m. hour. The segment will include a 30-second Krystal eating contest.
Historical Bites:
- Takeru Kobayashi’s only appearance at a Krystal Square Off Qualifier was in Jacksonville in 2004 when he ate 50 Krystals in eight minutes.
- Crazy Legs Conti won the 2005 Jacksonville Qualifier with 31 Krystals. Hall “Hoover” Hunt runner-up’d with 30 Krystals.
- In 2006, Joey Chestnut won the Jacksonville Qualifier by eating 52 Krystals. Crazy Legs finished second with 36.
- Hall Hunt won the 2007 Jacksonville Qualifier with 49 Krystals.
- Last year’s Jacksonville Qualifier saw Elizabeth Canady and Tim Brown tie for second with 38 Krystals apiece. Juliet Lee finished 4th with 35. Both Brown and Lee went on to the finals by claiming wild card spots at subsequent qualifiers.
- The Jacksonville Qualifier has been held on Labor Day every year except for the first year when it was held on Nov. 7
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August 28th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Hurricane Gustav on one side of Florida and soon to be Hurricane Hanna about to hit Florida from the other side, with the Jacksonville Qualifer directly in the middle. Hurricane Fay just went through and left her mark. Even with all the flooding and the very sticky mosquitoe infested weather the floods have brought, the burgers will be hot and so will the eaters. The battle will be between Hall and Sonya with the third place eater at least 10 behind.
This is my fourth year in the Jacksonvile Qualifier. I look forward to another return.
The waterfront will be the place to be on Labor Day. We eaters are praying for a cool breeze off the water while we are on stage. Best Wishes to all who make it on stage. Hang In There and Enjoy It.