Camas runner's podium absence follows Puyallup's state loss

A Camas High cross-country runner finished seventh in the girls' 4A division regionals race on Saturday, a result that kept Puyallup High from advancing to the state championships. The Puyallup team placed eighth, and only the top seven teams advance. The Camas athlete switched from the boys' team to the girls' team midseason.

When the runner's name was called at the podium, Joel Retzlaff, the father of Skyview High runner Sierra Retzlaff, yelled, "That's a man." The athlete did not come up to accept his award. Camas coach Matt LeGrand declined to explain the absence. The runner had placed seventh in districts the previous week and had won one varsity meet and placed second three times since switching teams.

Carol Brown, a three-time Olympian who won a bronze medal in rowing, spoke at the meet at Chambers Bay. She said she fought for Title IX to allow women in sports and did not expect to address the issue again fifty years later. Brown stated, "I absolutely believe in rights for everyone to participate in sport, but for it to be fair and safe, it has to be based on sex." She called the situation "absolutely unfair" because it placed girls' hard work in second seat to males.

Skyview runner Charlie Garrett finished just behind the Camas athlete in both districts and regionals. Garrett noted she was less than a second away from beating him but still set a personal record and qualified for state. She said his absence from the podium showed why he should not be in the race, adding, "He has a reason not to show up."

Jasmin Faulk, executive director of Women's Liberation Front, attended the meet to support fairness in women's sports. Faulk said the issue is about safety and fairness for women and girls, not party politics. She noted that many Democrats have been quiet on the topic due to fear of the movement, while the right has been consistent in supporting biological separation in sports.

Dawn Land held a sign reading "Girls deserve fair sports!" and described the runner's participation as grossly unfair. She expressed disgust at the adults who allowed the situation to occur. On Tuesday, Washington state voters will decide Initiative 638, which would prohibit biological males from competing in girls' K-12 sports. Brown urged voters, "Vote yes if you believe in fair and safe sports for girls."