Sonya Thomas Absence Has Competitive Eating Fans Guessing

After dominating the Chattanooga Qualifer the past 4 years, Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas will be a surprising no show this Saturday.

The notable absence of Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas from the list of competitors confirmed for this weekend’s qualifier in Chattanooga has had competitive eating fans wondering whether the number-one ranked female eater in the world is done with the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship.

Thomas has dominated the lead off qualifier for the past four years, even out-chowing Joey Chestnut in 2005, and has become a fan favorite on Krystal’s home turf of Chattanooga. But the Black Widow hasn’t been able to improve upon her personal record of 62 Krystals, which she did at the Chatty qualifier in 2006, and with the best of the bunch now at or near the century mark, some are thinking she’s given up on battling the boys for the top burger title.

Well, don’t count Thomas out so fast.

We’re getting word today that she may be heading to the Jacksonville Qualifier this Labor Day. And if she did, Thomas, who feels she’s at the top of her game now, would be giving J-ville’s hometown hero Hall “Hoover” Hunt a serious run for his money. Last year Hall cruised to victory down on the Landing by eating 49 Krystals, and he went on to eat 52 at last year’s finals for his personal best. But if Thomas shows, even his best may not be enough to earn one of the coveted seats at the final table in Chattanooga on September 28.

KrystalSquareOff.com will have a confirmed list of Jacksonville competitors by early-to-mid next week so stay tuned here for the latest.