High School Girls Walk Off Track Over Trans Athlete Controversy
Female athletes protest trans-identifying athlete’s participation in cross country meet.
2 min read
More than a dozen female athletes from Camas High School in Washington walked off the track during a cross country event on Tuesday, protesting the participation of a trans-identifying athlete. The incident occurred during a meet against Battle Ground High, where 13 of the 24 Camas runners left the course just 50 meters after the start gun.
Trans Athlete Transfers to Girls’ Division
The protest followed the midseason transfer of junior Logan Mihailoff, who identifies as a girl, from the boys’ division to the girls’ division. Mihailoff had previously competed in the boys’ junior varsity division, placing 76th out of 301 runners in a 5K race. After transitioning, he quickly began to dominate, placing second in a Nike Portland XC Invitational and winning a varsity event against Union High.
Parents and Coaches Express Concern
Sarah Burns, whose daughter Holly participated in the walkout, expressed frustration over the situation. She held a sign reading “Keep Girls Sports Fair + Female,” stating that biological boys have an unfair advantage due to physical differences such as lung capacity and leg length. “Women already had to fight to have their own team and race,” Burns said.
School Administrators Defend Policy
Camas High Principal Travis Drake stated that the district is bound by Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) rules, which allow students to compete based on their gender identity. Coach Matt LeGrand noted the difficulty the situation has caused for athletes and coaches, emphasizing the challenges faced by the team.
Previous Protests and Legal Threats
The controversy is not new. During a September 15 meet against Skyview, two opposing female runners walked off in protest, and one runner’s father was served a criminal trespass notice by the district after protesting with signs and chanting near the track.
Initiative on Sports Categories
Washington residents will vote on November 3 on Initiative 638, which would mandate that K-12 sports categories be defined strictly by biological sex, potentially impacting future athletic competitions and policies.
Source: Daily Wire
