Washington High School Girls Protest Male Athlete in Cross Country Race

In Washington, several high school girls, including Charlie Garret and Sierra Retzlaff, chose not to participate in a cross-country race, protesting against a male athlete who started the season on the boys’ team. Instead of racing when the gun sounded, Garret, Retzlaff, and about twelve other girls made a symbolic statement by walking a few meters and then exiting the course, leaving the male athlete to continue the race.

“He’s taking that spot. I don’t think that that’s right or fair,” Retzlaff voiced on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.” Garret concurred, stating, “I agree with Sierra, I don’t think it’s fair at all, and he’s taking away a spot from every single girl that lines up on that line.” Their protest was further underscored by body paint on their arms and legs, reading “keep women in women’s sports.”

“I think it’s amazing what they did and I think it’s really brave and courageous of them,” Garret praised the action taken by the girls from Camas.

The controversy emerged when the male runner, who previously finished 76th in a boys’ junior varsity race, secured first place in the girls’ varsity race on September 29. Both Garret and Retzlaff are students at Skyview High, while the male participant is from Camas, where some of his teammates also declined to compete in solidarity.

Parental support played a role, evidenced by signs supporting the protest brought by Retzlaff’s parents, though the father was removed from the event due to the signs being deemed inappropriate by the athletic director. Despite this, Retzlaff expressed appreciation for her parents’ backing, “Obviously it’s great not feeling like you’re the only one doing something, and having the people that are always with me through everything really helped a lot.”

The Camas School District adheres to the eligibility rules of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association and state law, yet changes might occur following an upcoming vote. On November 3, voters will decide on Initiative 638, which aims to prohibit students identified as biologically male from participating in certain female-specific interscholastic athletic competitions. This initiative calls for verification from a healthcare provider to confirm the biological sex of participants.

However, if affirmed, the initiative will not become effective in time for Garret, Retzlaff, and their fellow protesting participants. While Washington’s state cross-country championships are set for November 7, the measure would not be enacted until 30 days post-election. The outcome remains pending, as participants and supporters await the vote.