New cherry pit-spitting champ named

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EAU CLAIRE, Mich., July 8 (UPI) -- A Chicago man spat a cherry pit 69 feet, securing the title of international cherry pit-spitting champion at the 40th annual competition in Michigan.

Ron Matt, 46, was the overall winner of the event held Friday at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire, the farm said in a release.

Relegated to second was Rick "Pellet Gun" Krause, 58 of Tuba City, Ariz., a 15-time champion.

Following Krause was his son, "The Amazing" Matt Krause, 29, in third, and Randy Luthringer, 44, of Niles, Mich. In fifth was world-record holder Brian "Young Gun" Krause, 34, who set the current world record in 2003 with a spit of 93 feet 6.5 inches.

Matt is the first person to win the contest over the Krause and Lessard family dynasties since 1992.

Lisa Lynch of Cascade, Colo., won the women's division by spitting a cherry pit 39 feet 6 inches.

The 40th annual contest was judged by Berrien County Trial Court Judges Sterling Schrock and John Donahue and Eau Claire Mayor Dave Kurtz.