NEW YORK POST – Two transgender female high school athletes were no-shows for their race at the California State preliminary Track and Field Championship on Friday — a week after they clinched a spot in the elite race.
Athena Ryan, from Sonoma Academy, and Lorelei Barrett of Sherman Oaks Buckley, opted not to participate in the scheduled girl’s 1,600-meter run at Buchanan High in Clovis, Calif., according to The Los Angeles Times.
The California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports in California, wrote in a statement to the outlet:
“The CIF is disappointed for two of our student-athletes and their families because due to the actions of others, they found it necessary to withdraw from the State Track and Field Championships out of concern for the student’s well being,”
The CIF expressed that the organization “strongly denounces discriminatory or harassing behaviors” the student-athletes have been subjected to and are disappointed the runners have chosen not to compete.
Last week, Ryan and Barrett qualified to compete for a chance of winning states after placing in the top three of the girls’ 1,600-meter races at their respective sectional meets.
Ryan, a junior, finished in second place as protests formed, calling her participation in the competition unfair to the other girls.
She also came under fire after a runner who placed fourth was seen on video waving to the crowd before appearing to give a thumbs-down — a gesture taken entirely out of context, the school told The Post.
Barrett, who won third at the Southern Section Masters event last Saturday, was also subjected to similar pressure from the crowd, with a spectator allegedly yelling to “Trip her” repeatedly while she ran her 1,600-meter race, which can be heard on a video …
