Molly Schuyler Captures 2022 Title and Sets New Record, Devouring 37 Burgers in 10 Minutes for 13th Annual

Z-Burger Independence Burger Eating Championship

2021 Co-Champion Dan “Killer” Kennedy slips back into runner-up role with 36

WASHINGTON, DC (July 1, 2022) – Seven-time defending champion Molly Schuyler claimed her 8th trophy, downing 37 burgers in 10 minutes to break her own record and win the 13th Annual Z-Burger Independence Burger Eating Championship this afternoon (Friday, July 1) at the Tenleytown Z-Burger in Northwest Washington, DC.

Dan “Killer” Kennedy, who claimed the title with Schuyler in 2021, is the runner-up – for the fourth time in 13 years – downing 36 hamburgers in 10 minutes

Schuyler, a 42-year-old mother of four from Harwood, Maryland takes home $2,000, while Kennedy (West Decatur, PA), the #4 ranked competitive eater in the world, pocketed $1,250.

Canada’s top-ranked competitive eater Joel Hansen celebrated Canada Day with 26 burgers for a third-place finish that earned the newcomer US $1,000.

The other top finishers for the afternoon were Andrew Puhl (Shippenville, PA) in fourth place for the second straight year (he finished third in 2019 & 2020) with 23 burgers, Sean Yeager (Phoenixville, PA) in fifth with 19 burgers, and, in sixth, David Brunelli (Philadelphia, PA) with 17 burgers.

Puhl earned $750, with $500 for Yeager and $250 for Brunelli.

“The Z-Burger Independence Day Burger Eating Contest is truly a major event on the competitive food eating landscape, each year adding exciting new elements for the crowds and the competitors,” said founder Peter Tabibian, proprietor of four Z-Burger retail locations and the popular Z-Burger food truck.  “We increased prize money for 2022, and were thrilled to welcome a full field of competitors and an enthusiastic crowd of spectators, as well as a live performance from the Crush Funk Brass Band.  There’s always great anticipation leading up to our event, with inquiries from across the country from many of those within the competitive eating community. They consider us one of the real ‘go-to’ events of the year.”