EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) -- Less than two weeks away from the TrackTown 2012 U.S.A. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials, a new documentary is highlighting the power of women in the history of Oregon Track and Field.
A group of Portland based filmmakers will debut their documentary "We Grew Wings,” in late June 2012.
The documentary takes an inside look at the history of the UO Women's Track and Field teams of 1985 and 2011.
Both teams took home national titles against a lot of odds, with many of the women on the team’s doubling in big events to earn their teams enough points to win. In 1985, the Women of Oregon took home the NCAA title in Outdoor Track. In 2011, the Women of Oregon took home the NCAA title in Indoor Track.
A former UO Women’s Track athlete, Ellen Schmidt-Devlin produced the documentary, interviewing more than 150 women to do it.
“We decided, you know, they really should know their history the way that the men know their history,” says Schmidt-Devlin.
“We really feel like the little girls, they need role models and we feel like because we're building some role models here, we're going to give them the opportunity to believe in themselves and to never give up,” says Schmidt-Devlin.
One of the women athletes interviewed in the documentary is Brenda May. May was part of the 1985 Oregon Women’s Outdoor Track Team that won the NCAA National Championship.
May ran in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000 meter races.
Another focus of the documentary is how athletes like May helped open the door for women in track.
“When this came up, I felt like I cannot believe that something I accomplished when I was young is still coming up in my life that it was that important and sometimes it takes many years to really recognize what you have accomplished,” says Brenda May.
“We Grew Wings” premieres at the McDonald Theatre on June 30th, 2012, at 9 p.m.
For more information on the documentary and tickets, visit the film’s website at the following link: http://www.wegrewwings.com/.
