Arizona woman finishes 2nd at Nathan’s hot dog eating contest

PHOENIX — What’s the Fourth of July without a hot dog? Or, if you’re Tucson’s Michelle Lesco, 28 of them.

Lesco finished second Wednesday at Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest in the women’s division, knocking down over two dozen wieners in 10 minutes.

But that wasn’t enough to dethrone her friend, Miki Sudo, who won for the fifth straight time.

Sudo gobbled 37 franks. Last year she won with 41.

Lesco, a math teacher, was runner-up in the nationally televised competition for a second consecutive Independence Day.

Last year, the competitive eater downed 32 ½ dogs and buns in 10 minutes.

Lesco, whose nickname is the Cardboard Shell, was subdued after her latest attempt to win it all.

Terrible speed, bummer numbers, but 2nd place is 2nd place…

A post shared by Cardboard Shell (@cardboardshell) on Jul 4, 2018 at 2:25pm PDT

Thousands of attendees braved 83-degree temperatures and a heat index of 91 degrees to witness the annual July Fourth competition on the Coney Island boardwalk.

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut extended his reign as champion men’s eater, downing a record 74 wieners and buns in 10 minutes to take home the coveted Mustard Belt for the 11th time.

He ate 10 more dogs than Carmen Cincotti.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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