Washington Sports: Male Runner Blocks Puyallup Team From State Advance

The central conflict at the recent regional cross-country meet in University Place, Washington, was not a race between two runners, but a dispute over who earns a slot in the state championship. By finishing seventh in the 4A division girls' race, a biological male from Camas High prevented Puyallup High from advancing to the state tournament. The Puyallup team finished eighth, a position that would have secured them a berth had the Camas athlete not competed in the girls' category.

The athlete in question began the season on the boys' team, placing 76th in the opening junior varsity meet. He switched to the girls' varsity squad midseason. Since the transfer, he has won one varsity meet and placed second in three others. At the regional meet held on Saturday, he finished ahead of Skyview High runner Charlie Garrett. Garrett noted that she missed beating him by less than one second, but she still qualified for the state meet with a personal record.

The absence of the Camas runner from the podium after the race drew attention from the crowd. Joel Retzlaff, father of Skyview runner Sierra Retzlaff, called out, "That's a man!" when the winner's name was announced. Camas coach Matt LeGrand did not explain the absence. Garrett observed that the runner's decision to skip the podium suggested he had a reason to avoid the audience. "It shows why he shouldn't be in it," Garrett said.

Carol Brown, a three-time Olympian who won a bronze medal in rowing, spoke at the event about the fairness of the current rules. She argued that while she supports rights for everyone to participate, fairness and safety require competition to be based on sex. "I never thought 50 years later I'd be fighting it again," Brown said, referring to the Title IX era. She described the situation as unfair because the girls' hard work was being overshadowed by male competitors.

Jasmin Faulk, executive director of Women's Liberation Front, attended the meet to voice support for the separation of biological males and females in sports. Faulk, who was previously fired from a community college job over a blog post stating that biology matters, emphasized that the issue is about safety and fairness rather than partisan politics. She noted that while the right has been consistent on this issue, Democrats have often remained quiet due to fearmongering within the movement.

The public reaction at the meet was mixed. Some athletes, like a male runner wearing XX-XY Athletics gear, declined to comment or accept memorabilia from supporters. A female runner who took photos with the crowd later warned that believing in one's identity affects others who have trained extensively for the sport. She asked for anonymity to protect her standing in the sport. Dawn Land, a spectator holding a sign reading "Girls deserve fair sports!" expressed disgust that adults allowed the situation to occur.

The dispute arrives just before a key vote in Washington state. Initiative 638 is on the ballot for Tuesday, seeking to prohibit biological males from competing in girls' K-12 sports. The measure would codify the separation that many parents and coaches, like the Puyallup coach who declined to comment, argue is necessary for fair competition. Brown urged voters to support the initiative if they believe in safe and fair sports for girls.