March 15, 2010

By Eric Trainer, Associate Director of Media Relations

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- After helping their team to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships over the weekend, five University of Tennessee women have earned indoor All-America status, as accorded by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The UT quintet collectively tallied eight All-America certificates in Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday and Saturday, helping the Tennessee women record their fifth top-four indoor finish under UT Director of Track & Field J.J. Clark.

Those honored were senior Jackie Areson (3rd, 3000m/5th, 5000m), Chanelle Price (4th, 800m/1st, distance medley relay), Brittany Sheffey (1st, distance medley relay), Ellen Wortham (1st, distance medley relay) and Phoebe Wright (1st, 800m/ 1st, distance medley relay).

Wright Named Lady Vol Athlete of the Week After Stellar NCAA Performance

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- University of Tennessee senior Phoebe Wright has been named the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week after her remarkable performance over the weekend at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.

Wright, a product of Signal Mountain, Tenn., and Red Bank High School, claimed her first career individual NCAA title, winning the 800 meters, and contributed a strong 1200m opening leg as the UT women won the distance medley relay (DMR) for the third straight season. Her efforts were key to the Lady Vols' second-place team finish at the meet.

The runner-up in the 800 in 2009, Wright came back this season with a vengeance, leading the nation in that event all season long and closing it out with a dominant victory in 2:02.55. She became UT's third all-time NCAA Indoor winner at that distance, joining Nicole Cook (2004) and Joetta Clark (1983).

In the DMR, Wright ran the opening leg, staking Tennessee to a huge lead before turning the baton over to Ellen Wortham, Chanelle Price and Brittany Sheffey. The lead evaporated during Sheffey's turn with the stick, but she had enough in reserve to come from behind and hold on for the win. Wright has played a role in all of UT's DMR victories over the past three seasons.

Wright's heroics enabled the defending national champion Lady Vols, who entered the meet ranked fifth, to overachieve this season and post a runner-up finish. Tennessee has carded NCAA Indoor outcomes of third, eighth, first and second during Wright's time at Rocky Top.

She and her teammates are off this weekend but will return to action March 26-27, opening the outdoor campaign at the FSU Relays in Tallahassee, Fla.