Mother of Four Takes Down 26 Burgers to Win Z-Burger Eating Contest

Sole female competitor nabs $1,500 prize

A mother of four took down 26 burgers Thursday to become the sixth champion of Z-Burger's annual Independence Burger Eating Championship.

Molly Schuyler beat last year's winner, Patrick "Deep-Dish" Bertoletti, by a mere one burger to claim the $1,500 prize. She was the only female competitor.

Sixteen contestants competed to see who could gobble the most burgers in 10 minutes. Schuyler, a native of Bellevue, Nebraska, even saved some room to try another Z-Burger staple after the competition.

"I'm getting ready to have milkshakes," she said.

Rosslyn, Virginia's own Ian "the Invader" Hickman ate 15 burgers to tie for fourth place. Hickman, a financial analyst and "casual" competitive eater, took home a $400 prize.

As for Schuyler, she said the experience was "totally awesome," and already has plans for the prize money.

"I've got four kids and car payments to make," she said.

The contest was hosted at the burger chain's Wisconsin Avenue location in Washington, D.C.

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