Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas Wins 09 La Costeña Jalapeño Champi

In honor of Mexican Independence Day, the worlds greatest speed eaters competed in the third annual La Costeña Feel the Heat Jalapeño Eating Championship Challenge in Chicago.  Sonya The Black Widow Thomas won the La Costeña jalapeño eating championship in a sudden death match against the reigning champion Pat Deep Dish Bertoletti.  The Black Widow bit into her first La Costeña championship by eating 250 and a half whole pickled jalapeños in nine minutes. Bertoletti placed second with 240 jalapeños and coming in third was Eric Badlands Booker who ate 158.  Bertoletti was the defending champion, having won the jalapeño eating challenge the previous two years.  Both Bertoletti and Thomas set a new record for the number of jalapeños eaten at this annual competition.  Now in its third year, the La Costeña Feel the Heat Jalapeño Eating Championship Challenge is becoming well-known and well-respected as one of the most challenging foods in competitive eating.