'Black Widow' tops wing-eating field

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BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Sonya Thomas, a voracious eater known as "The Black Widow," ate a record 181 chicken wings in 12 minutes Sunday in Buffalo, N.Y., organizers ruled.

Her performance at the 2010 National Buffalo Wing Festival wasn't a fluke -- it's the fourth time she's won the competition.

Thomas bested a field of seasoned extreme eaters, including top challenger Joey Chestnut.

"This is probably the biggest eating contest in the world other than the Nathan's hot dog eating contest," festival organizer Drew Cerza told Buffalo's WKBW-TV. "The No. 1 eater in the world, Joey Chestnut, went up against Sonya Thomas -- a mismatch in size but not a mismatch in competitive eating talent and heart, and Sonya Thomas beat Joey Chestnut. She set a world record with 181 chicken wings."

The festival attracted people from all 50 states and 6 countries, Cerza said.