Sonya Thomas To Defend Her Qualifier Win Streak This Labor Day

Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas is looking to keep her perfect qualifier record alive this Labor Day in Jacksonville.

The world’s top female competitive eater Sonya Thomas has confirmed via her website that she will indeed compete this Labor Day at the Jacksonville Krystal Square Off V Qualifier. The Black Widow has a 12-0 lifetime record in qualifier contests, according to EatFeats.com, and she will try to extend her streak as she faces off against local hero Hall “Hoover” Hunt and a host of other eaters, all who are gunning for one of the coveted spots at the World Championship in Chattanooga on Sept. 28.

Hunt is the defending Jacksonville champ, earning his birth in the final last year by eating 49 Krystals.

While Thomas admits she hasn’t been practicing for the Krystal contest, she says she’ll be ready:

“As for me, I was not able to attend Chatty this year, but as it turned out, I will be in Jacksonville next weekend.. I have no idea how many Krystals I will be able to eat, as I have not practiced, and typically do not practice. With me, what I do is what I do — take it or leave it. But I do hope not to disappoint BW fans.”

We’re sure she won’t. Thomas has proven herself more than tough in qualifier contests over her illustrious career. At the Chattanooga Qualifier for Krystal Square Off II, Thomas famously held off the now number-one ranked eater in the world, Joey Chestnut, out-Krystaling him 57 to 56. The next year she improved upon her best by chowing down 62 Krystals in eight minutes, a mark that still stands today as the Chattanooga Qualifier record.

We’ll be recording an audio podcast with Sonya and Hall Hunt this week so if you have any questions you’d like us to ask, shoot us an email at ksquareoff [at] gmail.com.

Don’t miss out on the action as it happens. Sign up to get messages from this year’s tour via Twitter here.

Check out the great photos from last Saturday’s qualifier in Chattanooga on our photo page here.

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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.