CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. – Once again competing against the best eaters in the world on the biggest stage, former Clayton State men's basketball player Gideon Oji (Imane-in-Koji, Nigeria) downed a personal best 38 hot dogs and buns to finish an impressive fourth in the 2016 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. The event aired live on ESPN3 and on tape delay on ESPN.
 
Having qualified for the event with 33 earlier this year and finishing with 19 last year, Oji took a huge leap forward as he finished with a personal best – and African born record – of 38 to finish fourth.
 
He trailed only nine-time world champion Joey Chestnut, who set an event record with 70, the 2015 champion Matt Stonie (53) and Carmen Cincotti (41) and finished ahead of Geoff Esper (37.5) and Adrian Morgan (36).
 
 
Entering the competition ranked No. 10 in the world, Oji was introduced while bearing the flag of his native Nigeria. President of Major League Eating George Shea had this to say about Oji upon his introduction.
 
"In his second season in Major League Eating, he is already ranked No. 10. He is from Nigeria, stands 6-feet, 9-inches tall. He has eaten 170 Hooters chicken wings and 34 ears of corn in South Florida. Let me hear it for the great Gideon Oji!"
 
He would also be one of the few competitors not named Chestnut or Stonie to be featured during the broadcast as he was consistently fourth or fifth throughout the Main Event.
 
 
Oji would improve greatly upon his rookie performance from a year ago when he finished tied for 13^th with 19 hot dogs and buns. For the second straight year, he was also witness to history. A year ago he was there when Stonie snapped Chestnut's string of eight straight world titles and this when Chestnut regained the belt with a record 70 HDBs.
 
It would also be the second consecutive year he was also the lone NCAA competitor, representing Division II, in the 100^th Annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
 
2016 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Final Results
1. Joey Chestnut - 70 (Event Record)
2. Matt Stonie – 53
3. Carmen Cincotti - 42
4. Gideon Oji – 38 (African-born Record)
5. Geoff Esper – 37.5
6. Adrian Morgan – 36
T7. Yasir Salem – 31
T7. Erik Denmark – 31
9. Rich LeFevre – 29
10. Marcos Owens – 28
11. Juan Rodriquez – 27
12. Eric "Badlands" Booker – 25
13. Brian Dudzinkski – 25
14. Steven Schuster – 16
15. Dan "Big Cat" Katz – 12
16. Crazy Legs Conti - 1