{"id":44993,"date":"2021-08-25T15:06:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T21:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/hot-dog-eating-contest-raises-more-than-2700-for-special-olympics\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:22:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:22:43","slug":"hot-dog-eating-contest-raises-more-than-2700-for-special-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/hot-dog-eating-contest-raises-more-than-2700-for-special-olympics\/","title":{"rendered":"Hot dog eating contest raises more than $2,700 for Special Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Kaycen
Kaycen Carey, 5, stands up to show off the medal she helped her team win by eating four hot dogs at the contest to benefit Special Olympics. (Morgan Mitchell\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

FARMINGTON \u2013 After being canceled for two years because of COVID-19, the Special Olympics State Games Four Corners Invitational returned last week to Farmington.<\/p>\n

The games included everything from golf to softball and other outdoor sports, said Deborah Lisenbee with Special Olympics Area 1. She added that normally the games would include swimming as well, however, Special Olympics Area 1 in New Mexico decided to stick to outdoor sports. Still, she said being back was a joy.<\/p>\n

\"Athletes,
Athletes, coaches, parents, families and volunteers gather in one of the buildings at McGee Park on Friday, Aug. 20, to eat after watching the hot dog eating contest and before going to the Special Olympics State Games Four Corners Invitational opening ceremonies. (Morgan Mitchell\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cThere was great joy and celebration in being together again and playing sports,\u201d Lisenbee said. \u201cThe people of San Juan County expressed their support in a big way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Athletes,
Athletes, coaches, parents, families and volunteers line up for barbecue and fixings in one of the buildings at McGee Park on Friday, Aug. 20, to eat after watching the hot dog eating contest. (Morgan Mitchell\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

More than 500 athletes turned out for the weekend games, which was kicked off by the first ever hot dog eating contest put on by the Farmington Police Department.<\/p>\n

The contest had different categories including law enforcement, first responders and community teams. There was a $50 entry fee and contestants could raise money to count toward hot dog credits. So if someone raised $100, they automatically got one hot dog credit to add to their total number of hot dogs consumed.<\/p>\n

The first round consisted of law enforcement who chowed down on the slippery meat and carby buns with water chasers to keep progressing in their eating endeavors. One officer, Sgt. Mark Gaines, politely ate his hot dog with fork and knife, complete with a napkin around his neck. He did not finish eating his dog within the five minutes.<\/p>\n\n

Gaines also brought ketchup and mustard that he politely shared with the fire department in the next round of the contest. The organizer of the event, Sgt. Travis Spruell, won the contest with a total of 12 hot dogs scored, however half of those were in the form of hot dog credits because he raised $600 for the event.<\/p>\n

\"Sgt.
Sgt. Travis Spruell accepts his hot dog medal after winning the law enforcement round of the hot dog eating contest to benefit the Special Olympics State Games Four Corners Invitational. (Morgan Mitchell\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

In total, the Farmington Police Department with the Law Enforcement Torch Run raised $2,785 for the hot dog contest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been a police officer for 14 years now, and \u2026 Special Olympics is the most fun and rewarding thing that I do,\u201d Spruell said. \u201cThe athletes are fun to be around. I think we learn more from them than they learn from us, and it\u2019s just a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

The second round saved the best for last and had both civilians and the fire department teams ready to go. The civilian team was made up of Brooke Tomlinson, who works in the human resource department of the Farmington Fire Department, and Kaycen Carey, a 5-year-old who knows how to put away those hot dogs better than her father who was on the fire department team.<\/p>\n

\"Brooke
Brooke Tomlinson, left, and Kaycen Carey hug after the 5-year-old accepted the hot dog medal on the team\u2019s behalf. (Morgan Mitchell\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cI had a pretty stellar teammate, 5-year-old Kaycen, she was awesome,\u201d Tomlinson said. \u201cShe was the MVP of our team, of course. We did awesome as a civilian team and we won. So I have to thank my teammate for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The strategy of the team was for Kaycen to eat the hot dogs while Tomlinson ate the buns. Periodically, Tomlinson would look over and check in with the 5-year-old to see how she was doing. Each time, Kaycen responded with a thumbs up. She was no-nonsense and followed the rule of \u201cdon\u2019t play with your food\u201d by scarfing down the hot dogs almost whole. The team tackled four hot dogs in five minutes.<\/p>\n

After the competition, Kaycen said she was there to eat hot dogs because she liked hot dogs, and the whole time she was eating, she was thinking about hot dogs. Kaycen was also proud of herself for beating her father in the contest. He ate only two.<\/p>\n

\"Kaycen
Kaycen Carey, 5, shows off her hot dog medal to her mother after the hot dog eating contest to benefit the Special Olympics State Games Four Corners Invitational. (Morgan Mitchell\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Tomlinson said she enjoys participating in events like these to benefit the Special Olympics. She also works with a local group called Project Search, which helps people with disabilities be introduced to the workforce and teaches them to live independently.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was honored and privileged and nervous to be asked to participate in the contest, so really just on the civilian side, I just wanted to be able to help raise funds and awareness to such an amazing cause,\u201d Tomlinson said.<\/p>\n

Spruell said he hopes more people will get involved with Special Olympics in the future as volunteers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can promise you, you\u2019ve never met anybody who can make you feel so good about yourself as (the athletes) do,\u201d Spruell said. \u201cThey are just so fun to be around.\u201d<\/p>\n

mmitchell@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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