Small woman sets cheese sandwich record

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NEW YORK, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A 100-pound Virginia woman who manages a Burger King restaurant now holds the World Grilled Cheese Eating title after downing 26 sandwiches in 10 minutes.

Sonya Thomas, who already holds numerous eating records, won $8,000 in the GoldenPalace.com competition, held Wednesday at the Planet Hollywood restaurant in New York's Times Square.

She said she trains by drinking large amounts of water to expand her stomach capacity. For Wednesday's match, she soaked her sandwiches in water to make them easier to swallow. Thomas estimated she gained 10 pounds during the contest.

Her nearest competitor, Joey Chestnut, ate 25 1/2 sandwiches, Newsday reported.

Thomas had little time for reporters after the contest, saying she had to catch a train to go to work at a Burger King on Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.