Camas School District superintendent John Anzalone stated that the students who walked off the cross country course will not face disciplinary action for their protest. The incident occurred Tuesday when approximately a dozen runners from the Camas High School girls team left the starting line during a race against Battle Ground High School in Washington state.
The athletes were protesting the participation of a male teammate competing against females. Last month, a Camas sophomore switched from the boys team to the girls team midseason after finishing 76th in a boys race. Since the switch, the athlete has won one varsity meet and placed second in two others.
Anzalone described the situation as heartbreaking, noting that the issue has polarized the country and placed students in a difficult position. He emphasized that his response was driven by empathy for the teenagers involved rather than a political stance. "It's always hard to see when students are upset," Anzalone said. "I think some of them were very conflicted. But they're also teenagers. They're still children."
The superintendent clarified that the district will not take steps to prevent the male runner from competing as long as current policies allow it. Under rules from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), students are permitted to compete on teams consistent with their gender identity. Anzalone stated that the school district does not make political stances and will continue to follow existing policy and law.
The next scheduled event for the Camas cross country team is the Greater St. Helen's League district meet on October 21. This meet limits participation to seven varsity runners per team, meaning the male athlete will likely displace one of his female teammates. Anzalone confirmed that no action will be taken to alter this lineup.
A broader legal challenge to these policies is pending in Washington state. Initiative 638 appears on the November 3 ballot and would mandate that K-12 students compete on teams based on their biological sex. A spokesperson for Let's Go Washington, the group behind the initiative, indicated the measure would become active 30 days after the election, though delays in certifying results could push back that timeline.
The Camas School District issued a statement on Wednesday acknowledging that community members hold differing views on athletic eligibility. The statement noted that as a member of the WIAA, the district follows applicable state law and eligibility rules, which currently prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression. The district stated it does not set eligibility standards independently and will not discuss individual students' circumstances.