New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg looks to see how many puns he made while making a speech during the official weigh-in for the Nathan's Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, Wednesday, July 3, 2013... (Associated Press) 
 
 Joey Chestnut laughs as he stands on the scale during the official weigh-in for the Nathan's Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at City Hall park in New York. Thomas ate just shy of 37 hot dogs compared to Lee's even 36, securing herself as the only women's champion since the event was divided into separate divisions in 2011. #myfoxny pic.twitter.com/XtiLGkD4pp — LidiaCuranaj (@LidiaFox5NY) July 4, 2013 
 
 The result of the women's competition was a bit disappointing, though, as Thomas set a record with 45 hot dogs last year -- over nine more than she was able to chow down on this year. He also broke his record of 68 hot dogs, too, after most recently resetting it at last year's competition. Thomas, 45, powered through 45 dogs to take the women's championship last year and also won in 2011, the first year women competed separately.
– Can no one stop the sausage-consuming juggernauts that are Joey Chestnut and Sonja Thomas? Chestnut not only won his seventh-consecutive title today at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, he set a new world record by scarfing down 69 hot dogs and buns during the ten minutes allotted, SB Nation reports. The total tops his own personal best of 68, a record he shared with absent archrival Kobayashi. Doubting oddsmakers had set his over/under at just 63.5 dogs. Thomas—aka "the Black Widow"—also kept her crown for another year, but just barely. Thomas managed just 36 and three-quarters dogs, narrowly edging out Juliet Lee, who devoured 36 even, the AP reports. Thomas, who has won every year since Nathan began holding a separate women's competition in 2011, ate a record 45 dogs last year.