Senior Tamelca Lewis was born on the last day of 1982 in Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica. She transferred to Ball State University from the University College of the Caribbean to begin her first season as a sophomore. In high school, she placed fourth in the triple jump in the 2005 Jamaican National Championship and earned a Certificate of Excellence in 2001. While at Ball State last season, she placed third at the Mid-American Conference Championships in the indoor triple jump with a distance of 40-6 1/4. During the outdoor season, she finished 14th at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championship in the triple jump and was selected to the first All-MAC team when she won the triple jump competition at the MAC Championships with a distance of 41-8 3/4.
This season, Lewis is a member of the women's track team.
DAILY NEWS: When did you first get into sports, and what other sports did you play?
TAMELCA LEWIS: "I first got into sports at the age of six. Other sports I play include tennis, netball and football [soccer]. We don't play American football; the only sport I know that is close to that back home is rugby."
DN: How has your track season been?
TL: "I am currently suffering from a bone bruise (left heel), and this is a huge setback for me this season. I got injured last season, I will not be a hundred percent any time soon, but I give each jump at my meets the best I can. I only hurt when I do the triple jump but for the long jump I don't because I use my right leg to take off, unlike the triple where I use my left leg to hit the board and to do the hop phase before I switch to the right to do the step phase and then jump. So the constant pounding will kind of aggravate it."
DN: What has been your best accomplishment?
TL: "Placing third indoor at the MAC in the triple jump and being the MAC outdoor champion in the triple jump."
DN: What do you miss most about Jamaica?
TL: "I miss everything, especially the food (jerk chicken and jerk pork), the climate most of all, my family and friends."
DN: How have you changed or adapted since your arrival in America?
TL: "I am still trying to adapt to the climate since I am from a tropical island. Well, I don't think I will ever get used to this climate here in Muncie."
DN: What is your favorite American food?
TL: "Well, I love eating spaghetti and meatballs, if that is an American food."
DN: What is your favorite Jamaican food?
TL: "Rice and peas and curry chicken."
DN: What are your plans after graduating?
TL: "Go home and try to build my country, because we suffer from brain drain."
DN: Who do you idolize/admire?
TL: "I idolize my mom because she is a strong woman."
DN: What is your ideal meal the morning before competing?
TL: "Normally I just have fruit."
DN: Do you ever get a chance to go home and visit? If so, how often?
TL: "Yes, I do, well, once per year."
DN: What do you like to do when you're not competing and busy with school?
TL: "I like shopping, watching TV, reading magazines and romance novels."
DN: What is your favorite television show and movie?
TL: "'Law and Order,' favorite movie is 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'Rocky.'"
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