Yvette Lewis
Encyclopedia
Yvette Lewis is an American
track and field
athlete who competes in the 100 meter hurdles and the triple jump
. Her best time in the hurdles is 12.76 seconds while her best triple jump is 13.84 meters. She won the gold medal
in the hurdles at the 2011 Pan American Games
She represented Hampton University
collegiately and was the NCAA triple jump champion indoors in 2006 and outdoors in 2007. She has represented the United States twice at the Pan American Games
(2007 and 2011) as was a silver medalist in the 4×100 meter relay in 2011.
, Lewis initially competed in a variety of events, but made her international debut as a triple jumper at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics
.
She went on to compete in NCAA Division I for Hampton University
's Lady Pirates. While there, she represented the university in a variety of events, including triple jump, hurdles, long jump
and the short sprints. At the 2005 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
she came eight in the long jump and seventh in the triple jump. In 2006 she became the NCAA Indoor Champion
in the triple jump with a personal record mark of 13.75 meters. At the NCAA Outdoor Championship
later that year she came fourth with a jump of 13.59 m and was a 100 m hurdles semi-finalist. She made her debut at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
and claimed the triple jump bronze medal
, as well as setting a hurdles personal record of 13.14 seconds in the semi-finals of that event. She represented her country in the triple jump at the 2006 NACAC Under-23 Championships in Athletics
and finished in fourth place.
At the 2007 NCAA Indoors, Lewis was the runner-up in the triple jump and had minor placings in the hurdles and long jump. Greater success came outdoors as she became the 2007 NCAA triple jump champion with a jump of 13.73 m and reached the 100 m hurdles final with a new best run of 13.06 seconds. A jump of 13.59 m at the USA Nationals brought her second place behind Shani Marks
and she was yet again a hurdles semi-finalist. Despite her high national placing, she could not compete at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
as she had not achieved the necessary qualifying standard. However, she was selected to compete in both events for the American team for the 2007 Pan American Games
. At that competition, she came sixth in the triple jump and last in the hurdles final.
Having graduated from Hampton in 2007, she turned to professional competitions in 2008. She dipped under 13 seconds for the hurdles for the first time that year and ran a personal record of 12.87 seconds in the United States Olympic Trials
semi-finals. She was a triple jump finalist at the event, but finished just outside the top three in spite of a new best jump of 13.84 m. Having missed qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she competed on the European track circuit and ran a 100 m hurdles best of 12.85 seconds at the Herculis
meeting. She ended her year at the DAK Leichtathletik-Gala, coming sixth in the triple jump and third in the hurdles.
Her 2009 season began at European indoor meets: she won the 60 meter hurdles at the PSD Bank Meeting
then ran a new best time of 8.05 seconds at the BW-Bank Meeting
. The Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix saw her compete in a three-event challenge, where she won the hurdles and set new indoor bests in the long jump (6.29 m) and 400 metres
(56.63 seconds) to finish in second place overall. She returned to the United States for the outdoor season and made her impact at the Mt. SAC Relays
, winning the 100 m hurdles and coming second in the triple jump behind Shakeema Welsch. She came close to a new personal best at the adidas Track Classic
, where she won the triple jump in a meet record of 13.82 m. Following wins in the hurdles at the Primo Nebiolo
and Josef Odložil Memorial
meetings in Europe, she competed at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
and reached the hurdles semi-finals and triple jumped a windy 13.88 m for fourth place in that event. Having missed out on the major championships again, she returned to hurdling in Europe and equalled her best time to win at the International Leichtathletik-Sportfest in Cuxhaven.
Lewis focused on hurdling for the 2010 season and ran well in Europe, achieving a new 60 m hurdles best of 7.90 seconds and finishing as runner-up at the PSD Bank, BW-Bank, and Sparkassen Cup
meets. She competed sparingly in the outdoor season due to a serious injury to her right ankle. After running on the European indoor circuit in early 2011, she came third in the hurdles at the USA Indoor Championships. At the 2011 USA Outdoor Championships
, she was fifth in the triple jump and reached the hurdles final, although she was disqualified for a false start
. She competed in the hurdles at a number of 2011 IAAF Diamond League meets that year, including a second place finish at the Memorial Van Damme
final. A new personal record of 12.76 seconds came at the inaugural István Gyulai Memorial in Budapest and she broke the meeting record at the Palio Citta della Quercia
with a run of 12.87 seconds into a headwind. She helped the United States top the table at the DécaNation
with a hurdles win and was then selected for the national team at the 2011 Pan American Games
. She excelled at the continental competition by taking the hurdles gold medal
in a time of 12.82 seconds in the altitude of Guadalajara
. This made her the first American medalist in the hurdles event in twelve years and the first American winner since LaVonna Martin
24 years previously. She won a second medal for her country in the 4×100 meter relay race, where the American team took the silver, and she also managed seventh place in the triple jump.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete who competes in the 100 meter hurdles and the triple jump
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
. Her best time in the hurdles is 12.76 seconds while her best triple jump is 13.84 meters. She won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the hurdles at the 2011 Pan American Games
2011 Pan American Games
The 2011 Pan American Games, officially the XVI Pan American Games, was an international multi-sport event that was held from October 14–30, 2011 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Some events were held in the nearby cities of Ciudad Guzmán, Puerto Vallarta, Lagos de Moreno and Tapalpa...
She represented Hampton University
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
collegiately and was the NCAA triple jump champion indoors in 2006 and outdoors in 2007. She has represented the United States twice at the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
(2007 and 2011) as was a silver medalist in the 4×100 meter relay in 2011.
Career
Lewis was born in Germany, as her family was based there due to her father's placement in the army. Her mother, Lorna Dowlin, had competed athletically, but had given up pursuing sports in order to focus on her family. Raised in Newport News, VirginiaNewport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
, Lewis initially competed in a variety of events, but made her international debut as a triple jumper at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics
2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics was the 2004 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held in Grosseto in Italy.-Men:-Women:-Medals table:-References:*. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2010-06-06....
.
She went on to compete in NCAA Division I for Hampton University
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
's Lady Pirates. While there, she represented the university in a variety of events, including triple jump, hurdles, long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
and the short sprints. At the 2005 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Indoor Track and Field Championships is an annual indoor track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
she came eight in the long jump and seventh in the triple jump. In 2006 she became the NCAA Indoor Champion
NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA team champions for Women's Indoor Track and Field-See also:*AIAW Intercollegiate Women's Indoor Track and Field Champions*NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship*NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship...
in the triple jump with a personal record mark of 13.75 meters. At the NCAA Outdoor Championship
NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA team champions for Women's Outdoor Track and Field-By school:-See also:*AIAW Intercollegiate Women's Outdoor Track and Field Champions*NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship*NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship...
later that year she came fourth with a jump of 13.59 m and was a 100 m hurdles semi-finalist. She made her debut at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships is an annual track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
and claimed the triple jump bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
, as well as setting a hurdles personal record of 13.14 seconds in the semi-finals of that event. She represented her country in the triple jump at the 2006 NACAC Under-23 Championships in Athletics
NACAC Under-23 Championships in Athletics
The NACAC Under-23 Championships in Athletics is an under-23 athletics competition held between the member associations of theNorth American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association...
and finished in fourth place.
At the 2007 NCAA Indoors, Lewis was the runner-up in the triple jump and had minor placings in the hurdles and long jump. Greater success came outdoors as she became the 2007 NCAA triple jump champion with a jump of 13.73 m and reached the 100 m hurdles final with a new best run of 13.06 seconds. A jump of 13.59 m at the USA Nationals brought her second place behind Shani Marks
Shani Marks
Shani Marks is an American athlete who competes in the triple jump. Marks finished first at the U.S...
and she was yet again a hurdles semi-finalist. Despite her high national placing, she could not compete at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
as she had not achieved the necessary qualifying standard. However, she was selected to compete in both events for the American team for the 2007 Pan American Games
Athletics at the 2007 Pan American Games
The athletics competition at the 2007 Pan American Games was held at the Flamengo Park and Estádio Olímpico João Havelange in Rio de Janeiro between 22 July and 29 July 2007...
. At that competition, she came sixth in the triple jump and last in the hurdles final.
Having graduated from Hampton in 2007, she turned to professional competitions in 2008. She dipped under 13 seconds for the hurdles for the first time that year and ran a personal record of 12.87 seconds in the United States Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
semi-finals. She was a triple jump finalist at the event, but finished just outside the top three in spite of a new best jump of 13.84 m. Having missed qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she competed on the European track circuit and ran a 100 m hurdles best of 12.85 seconds at the Herculis
Herculis
The Herculis is an annual track and field meet at Stade Louis II in Fontvieille, Monaco. Previously one of the five IAAF Super Grand Prix events, it is now part of the IAAF Diamond League.-World records:...
meeting. She ended her year at the DAK Leichtathletik-Gala, coming sixth in the triple jump and third in the hurdles.
Her 2009 season began at European indoor meets: she won the 60 meter hurdles at the PSD Bank Meeting
PSD Bank Meeting
The PSD Bank Meeting is an annual indoor track and field competition which takes place in February at the Arena-Sportpark in Düsseldorf, Germany. The event was first held in 2006 and attracted a sell-out crowd of 1500 people at the inaugural edition...
then ran a new best time of 8.05 seconds at the BW-Bank Meeting
BW-Bank Meeting
The BW-Bank Meeting is an annual indoor track and field competition which takes place in January or February in Karlsruhe, Germany. The meeting was first held at the Europahalle in 1985 and is currently an IAAF Indoor Permit Meeting...
. The Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix saw her compete in a three-event challenge, where she won the hurdles and set new indoor bests in the long jump (6.29 m) and 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
(56.63 seconds) to finish in second place overall. She returned to the United States for the outdoor season and made her impact at the Mt. SAC Relays
Mt. SAC Relays
The Mt. SAC Relays are an annual track and field festival held primarily at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, California. The relays, held in April each year, were started by then track coach Hilmer Lodge in 1959. The meet attracts all levels and disciplines of...
, winning the 100 m hurdles and coming second in the triple jump behind Shakeema Welsch. She came close to a new personal best at the adidas Track Classic
Adidas Track Classic
The Adidas Track Classic is an American track and field athletics meeting which has taken place annually in Carson, California since 2005. The meeting forms part of the USA Track & Field Visa Championship Series and is also one of the few area meetings where athletes can earn points to qualify for...
, where she won the triple jump in a meet record of 13.82 m. Following wins in the hurdles at the Primo Nebiolo
Memorial Primo Nebiolo
The Memorial Primo Nebiolo is an annual track and field meeting held at the Stadio Primo Nebiolo in Turin, Italy in early June.The history of the Turin competition dates back to 1963, when the Torino Meeting was first held. This event hosted top level athletes, such as Sebastian Coe and Saïd...
and Josef Odložil Memorial
Josef Odložil Memorial
The Josef Odložil Memorial is an annual track and field meeting which takes place in June at the Stadion Juliska in Prague, Czech Republic....
meetings in Europe, she competed at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships took place between June 25–28 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The competition acted as a way of selecting the United States team for the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin later that year....
and reached the hurdles semi-finals and triple jumped a windy 13.88 m for fourth place in that event. Having missed out on the major championships again, she returned to hurdling in Europe and equalled her best time to win at the International Leichtathletik-Sportfest in Cuxhaven.
Lewis focused on hurdling for the 2010 season and ran well in Europe, achieving a new 60 m hurdles best of 7.90 seconds and finishing as runner-up at the PSD Bank, BW-Bank, and Sparkassen Cup
Sparkassen Cup (athletics)
The Sparkassen Cup is an annual indoor track and field competition which takes place in February in Stuttgart, Germany. The meeting was first held at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in 1987 and is currently an IAAF Indoor Permit Meeting....
meets. She competed sparingly in the outdoor season due to a serious injury to her right ankle. After running on the European indoor circuit in early 2011, she came third in the hurdles at the USA Indoor Championships. At the 2011 USA Outdoor Championships
2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships were held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Organised by USA Track and Field, the four-day competition took place from June 23–26 and served as the national championships in track and field for the United States...
, she was fifth in the triple jump and reached the hurdles final, although she was disqualified for a false start
False start
In sports, a false start is a movement by a participant before being signaled or otherwise permitted by the rules to start...
. She competed in the hurdles at a number of 2011 IAAF Diamond League meets that year, including a second place finish at the Memorial Van Damme
Memorial Van Damme
Memorial van Damme is an annual athletics event at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium that takes place in late August or early September...
final. A new personal record of 12.76 seconds came at the inaugural István Gyulai Memorial in Budapest and she broke the meeting record at the Palio Citta della Quercia
Palio Citta della Quercia
The Palio Citta della Quercia is an annual track and field meeting held at the Stade Quercia in Rovereto, Italy. Usually held in late August or early September, it is a European Athletics premier meeting...
with a run of 12.87 seconds into a headwind. She helped the United States top the table at the DécaNation
DecaNation
DecaNation is an annual track and field meeting organized by the French Athletics Federation since 2005. The competition comprises national teams of athletes competing in a decathlon, with each athlete competing in their specialised event to score points for their respective countries...
with a hurdles win and was then selected for the national team at the 2011 Pan American Games
Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games
Athletics competitions at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara was held from October 23 to October 30 at the newly built Telmex Athletics Stadium. The racewalking and marathon events were held on the temporary Guadalajara Circuit and Route and the Pan American Marathon circuit respectively...
. She excelled at the continental competition by taking the hurdles gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in a time of 12.82 seconds in the altitude of Guadalajara
Guadalajara
Guadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...
. This made her the first American medalist in the hurdles event in twelve years and the first American winner since LaVonna Martin
LaVonna Martin
LaVonna Ann Martin-Floreal is a former American athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metre hurdles.She competed for the United States in the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona, Spain in the 100 metre hurdles and won the silver medal...
24 years previously. She won a second medal for her country in the 4×100 meter relay race, where the American team took the silver, and she also managed seventh place in the triple jump.