By Chris Hansen
sports@knoxnews.com
EUGENE, Ore. - Phoebe Wright blazed down the homestretch, eased across the finish line and after a few more steps, enthusiastically pumped her right arm in celebration.
The former walk-on is now a national outdoor track and field champion.
The Tennessee senior from Signal Mountain, in her final collegiate meet, won the women's 800-meter run Friday at the NCAA championship meet at Hayward Field in front of 11,972. She won the indoor 800 earlier this year.
"It's always weird when you cross the finish line, because it takes you a while to realize where you are and where everyone is," Wright said. "But when I saw that I won, it's taken four long years to get that and I've messed up at a couple of nationals, and I promised myself I wouldn't mess up this one."
