CONEY ISLAND — Former Connecticut resident Miki Sudo cemented her dominance in competitive eating Friday, clinching her 11th title in the women’s division of the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Sudo, who once called Torrington home, consumed 33 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, maintaining her position as the top-ranked woman and No. 5 overall competitor in Major League Eating. While her total fell short of last year’s world record-breaking performance of 51 hot dogs, Sudo’s consistent reign continues — with only 2021 missing from her streak when she sat out the event due to pregnancy.
Sudo’s husband, Nick Wehry, a fellow Major League Eating competitor and Connecticut native, also took part in the men’s division. Wehry, who was born in Hartford and graduated from Wamogo Regional High School in Litchfield, began his competitive eating journey with a paczki-eating contest in Ansonia in 2017. The couple famously met at the 2018 Nathan’s contest and briefly lived in Torrington before relocating to Florida.
The contest also featured Danbury native Jerome Burns, a rookie in the competitive eating circuit, alongside Massachusetts’ Geoffrey Esper, who secured his spot at Coney Island by winning the Connecticut qualifier.
In the men’s division, Joey Chestnut made a victorious return after a high-profile absence last year, devouring 70.5 hot dogs and buns to reclaim the coveted Mustard Belt for a record 17th time.
Chestnut, a 16-time champion, was banned from last year’s event due to an endorsement deal with plant-based competitor Impossible Foods. He has since signed a new three-year contract with Nathan’s and the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE), ensuring his return to the iconic Fourth of July contest.
Despite the fierce competition and the ongoing rivalries, the event once again showcased both athletic endurance and a touch of Connecticut pride on the global stage.
