Two dozen people, hungry for victory, devoured nearly 100 Nu-Way Weiners hot dogs in four minutes during the annual hot dog eating contest Wednesday night at the Georgia State Fair.

"They ate more than they ever had," said Jim Cacavias, a co-owner of the famed Macon restaurant.

The contest featured an adult competition and one for children 13 and younger. Each group had two minutes to inhale as many hot dogs as it could.

A paramedic trained in the Heimlich maneuver was at the ready for any choking emergency.

Mercer University student David Roll, 20, of Cumming, turned out to be the top dog by eating four wieners topped with chili.

The secret to his success was dousing his dogs in water to help them slide down.

When the two minutes were up, Roll pulled up his gray T-shirt, rubbed his rounded belly and let out a roaring scream.

The victory yell came after weeks of training.

Roll and his college buddies visit Nu-Way every Tuesday at noon, said Thomas Gilbert, 21, of Orlando, Fla., who also competed in the contest.

"We feel like evangelists because every time we go we bring someone new with us," said Gilbert, who began the contest in a squat stance that positioned his mouth inches away from the five foil-wrapped frankfurters in front of him.

Ernestine Hicks, 17, of Macon, was just a few bites short of Roll.

"Getting the hot dog bun down without getting stuck was the hardest part," Hicks said.

Third-place finisher John Garza, 48, of Macon, also used the wet-the-bun method, but he had another challenge.

"No teeth," said Garza, who was missing his upper set of choppers.

The winner of the children's competition, Kandies Gardner, 12, of Macon, set a new record for the contest by eating all three hot dogs set before her.

"We've never had a child that has eaten three before," Cacavias said. "So they've broken the children's barrier."

Three hot dogs was nothing for Gardner.

"She eats about two packs of hot dogs a day herself," said David Bonner, Gardner's uncle.

The judges had a difficult time deciding which child came in second place.

Keyonna Whisby, 12, and Kevin McKleroy, 13, had both eaten about the same two and two-thirds hot dogs.

But the judges noticed some puffiness in McKleroy's cheeks.

When asked to open his mouth, McKleroy revealed big chunks of those famous red wieners tucked in his cheeks.

He came in third.

Wednesday's blue-ribbon winners both jumped the gun and took a couple of bites before the competition began.

But the judges were quick to replace the half-eaten hot dogs with whole ones.

So, Roll actually ate four and a half hot dogs while Gardner packed away three and a half.

The false start might have turned out to be a winning strategy.

"It was an appetizer," Cacavias said. "It really got the juices flowing."

To contact Liz Fabian, call 744-4303 or e-mail lfabian@macontel.com.

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AT A GLANCE

9 a.m. - Kindergarteners admitted free with prior approval
Noon - Gates and exhibits open
Noon-2 p.m. - Lunch at the fair - free admission at lunch
3 p.m. - Midway opens - rides unlimited
6-8 p.m. - Firefighter competition
6:30 p.m. - Doughnut eating contest
7 p.m. - FFA Swine showmanship show
7-10:30 p.m. - Grapevine Band