Two couples broke the 24-hour mark Thursday in their quest to set a record for the world's longest kiss.
Menthia Clark and Chike Lamar Carter of New Orleans and Roberta and Mark Griswold of Detroit were the last couples left standing out of the nine who began the competition Wednesday, promoters said.Under the rules, the couples' lips had to touch constantly, they had to remain standing and no breaks were allowed.
The contest, sponsored by Breath Savers mints, was taking place at the Harley Davidson Cafe in Manhattan, where New Yorkers paused to watch the embracing couples through the windows.
"I'm more interested in whether they can kiss each other afterward, and what kind of fights they have, like `You didn't do it right,' " observed Judith Haynes, as she stopped to watch while walking her dog.
The last couple left standing will win a one-week trip to Paris and attempt to have their feat recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. There is no existing record based on the rules for this competition.
The competing couples won regional kissing contests in Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Dallas; Detroit; New Orleans; Philadelphia; and Phoenix.