Washington state high school girls walk off cross-country race over runner’s move to girls’ team
by The Washington Times AI News Desk · The Washington TimesAbout a dozen girls on a Washington state high school girls’ cross-country team walked away from a race Tuesday rather than compete against a runner who started the season on the boys’ team and later moved to the girls’ team, parents told OutKick.
The Tuesday meet pitted Camas High School against Battle Ground at the Underwriters Lab campus. When the girls’ race began, roughly half the runners took off, along with the athlete at the center of the dispute. The others, including Camas runner Holly Burns, walked past the starting line and into a nearby tree line, forfeiting the competition, according to OutKick.
Her parents, Kevin and Sarah Burns, said their daughter first wanted to avoid “making waves,” but changed her mind as teammates began talking. They said they do not yet know what sitting out will cost her. Mr. Burns said he does not see how it is “OK to discriminate” against girls trying to compete fairly.
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The Camas School District has said it follows Washington law and Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) eligibility rules. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal has said Washington has allowed students to participate in athletics consistent with their gender identity since 2007 and will keep enforcing its laws unless Congress or the federal courts change the requirements, OutKick reported.
The athlete finished 76th in a boys’ junior varsity race Sept. 5 at the Ultimook meet in Oregon, and by Sept. 15 was running in a girls’ race at a Camas meet, according to OutKick. The Burnses said they have not spoken with the athlete or the athlete’s family, and that the runner should compete with boys.
Tuesday’s walkout followed a similar protest Sept. 15 by two Skyview High School runners. OutKick reported that the father of one of them, Joel Retzlaff, was later served a criminal trespass notice barring him from Camas district property for a year. Camas Superintendent John Anzalone has said the notice was a safety measure after he was told Retzlaff drove through a barrier marked with construction tape, according to OutKick. Retzlaff has said he was standing up for girls.
The Burnses said they were challenged by security for holding signs Tuesday, and that they plan a more organized protest at a future meet.
Washington voters will decide Nov. 3 on Initiative 638, which would bar students it defines as biologically male from certain female-only interschool competitions and require verification of biological sex from a health care provider. The Burnses support it. OutKick reported that it would take effect 30 days after the election, after the state cross-country championships scheduled for Nov. 7. Camas lists its next championship meet for Oct. 21 at Lewisville Regional Park.
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A separate Washington case is also pending at the U.S. Supreme Court, where a high school wrestler and her mother have asked for emergency relief, including notice and a no-penalty opt-out from competing against male athletes. The WIAA opposed the request in a Tuesday filing, arguing it would conflict with state law and compromise other students’ privacy. The court’s docket showed no ruling, OutKick reported.
This article was constructed with the assistance of artificial intelligence and published by a member of The Washington Times' AI News Desk team. The contents of this report are based solely on The Washington Times' original reporting, wire services, and/or other sources cited within the report. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Steve Fink, Director of Artificial Intelligence, at sfink@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.