University of Tennessee Athletics
The Inside Track with Phoebe Wright
March 10, 2009 | Women's Track
March 10, 2009
Phoebe Wright, a junior from the Chattanooga suburb of Signal Mountain and a graduate of Red Bank High School, is a three-time All-American, relay national champion and two-time SEC event winner. The biological sciences major heads to College Station, Texas, this week to compete in the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 13-14. She qualified for the meet in the 800 meters, logging a career-best and NCAA-leading time of 2:02.39 en route to a conference title at the SEC Indoor Championships. That mark ranks her as the second fastest Lady Vol ever indoors in the 800m. Phoebe also plays a key role on Tennessee's distance medley relay (DMR). She runs the opening 1200m leg on a quartet that earlier this season set the American record and ran the No. 2 time ever in world history by women (10:56.40) at the New Balance Invitational in New York City. She ran the 800m leg last season as UT won the NCAA Indoor title in the DMR in a then-school-record time of 11:01.97.
What's a typical day like for Phoebe Wright?
"Pretty hectic with a slew of practices, food breaks, classes, and whatnot."
What is your favorite spot on campus?
"Joe Johnson-John Ward Greenway. I like to people-watch."
What's your favorite thing about traveling to away meets?
"Racing!"
What is your favorite Coach Clark saying or quote?
"You can eat up a lot of talent by just having heart."
If you could participate in any other sport at Tennessee what would it be and why?
"Soccer. I used to play in high school and loved it."
You have gone from walk-on to SEC champion in three seasons.....can you describe the feeling of such an achievement?
"It feels great. I am glad I did not come in as a top recruit because I have yet to feel the pressure of having the expectations of running well. I just go out and run and, hopefully, surprise myself."
What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?
"Probably coaching or teaching."
You have run faster in the 800m than any Lady Vol indoors except for Nicole Cook's collegiate record 2:00.75....is that hard to wrap your mind around?
"A little, but my mind is more focused on narrowing in on her record to make it more untouchable for other schools to break."
What's your favorite track & field memory from college?
"I had a breakthrough race at Penn Relays my freshman year in the 4x800 where I ran beyond my capabilities to split a 2.06. Something changed for me that day."
Who plays you in a movie about your life?
"Probably my best friend, Emily Lea. She she could be a great actress and would portray my life and family to a "T"."
Where did you get your talents and love for track & field?
"I might cause a riot in the family if I put where I get my talents from. Each member claims it's from them. I guess the whole family, both sides, including aunts and uncles. I don't know why I love the sport so much. I guess because it gives me a chance to witness how mentally tough people are."
You were part of an American record-setting DMR quartet...what was that like to do that, and in New York City to top it off?
"It was awesome! I wish we had run two seconds faster to snatch the world record, but we have another chance. It's crazy that each leg could have run faster than that. I am proud of our team."
What's in your Ipod?
"A little bit of everything from moe. to Daft Punk to Fergie to the Rolling Stones."
What's your favorite venue you've run in for a track meet and why?
"Penn Relays. There are so many fans there, and it has a great feel. It is the most stressful meet, though."
What book(s) are you reading right now?
"I am about to start Twilight. I have a deal with my 13-year-old cousins, Jennifer and Sarah, that if I read Twilight, they will read Harry Potter."
What made you choose Tennessee as your college?
"When I had graduated, I still had not chosen a college, so I panicked and took a visit to UT. I happened to love it. Coach Clark had a large influence on the decision."
What motivates you?
"I like to win. When I don't want to do a workout, I find myself thinking, 'do it to be on the line at the NCAA finals.'"
Who do you look up to in the world of track & field?
"Oh, I have a lot I look up to. Jearl Miles-Clark, Nicole Cook, Sarah Bowman. Basically, anyone who is ready to bring it on any day."
What are your favorite TV shows?
"House and The Simpsons are my favorites."
What has been your favorite moment this season?
"WINNING SECS!!"
If you were a super hero, who would you be?
"I don't know who I would be, but I would like to be Superman."
How much do you think it helped you for the NCAA Championships, having run on the same Texas A&M track earlier this season?
"Fast people run fast anywhere regardless of the situation. I would run fast regardless, but it is nice to know the venue, where to warm up, and the feel of the track."
Did being an upper class member of the team make you approach this season any differently? How so?
"It did, actually, because I am an example for the younger people on our team. I am trying to teach the frosh that you can be consistent and go out and run on any given day."
What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?
"Mint Chocolate Chip, for sure."
Do you feel like this season has gone according to script so far? How so/why not?
"For the most part, yes. I have had a few setbacks with Achilles pain in December, but I have raced well and put up some good marks."
What was your favorite toy or stuffed animal as a child?
"I had a blanket I called green-betty. It wasn't originally green; it just got washed so much that the colors faded."
Were you a picky eater as a child, or were you always a healthy eater?
"I was picky as a little kid, but I've gotten much better now. Now I am a healthy eater with a sweet tooth that is out of control."
What do you want people to remember you for when you leave Tennessee?
"I would like to be remembered as an inspiration that you can do anything if you want it badly enough."
