High School Teams Walkout Over Midseason Switch

Courtney Bruce and Adelina Sotnikova running in a cross-country race with a large pack — Photo: WoodysPhotos / Shutterstock

A midseason switch that moved a runner from boys’ junior varsity to girls’ competition pushed a team of Washington high school girls to walk off the course in protest.

Story Highlights

About a dozen Camas High girls refused to race after a teammate joined the girls’ team midseason.
Reports say the athlete ran a boys’ junior-varsity race on September 5, then competed in girls’ events by September 15.
Students said they objected on fairness grounds, writing “Keep Women in Women’s Sports” on their arms.
Officials cite Washington Interscholastic Activities Association rules allowing participation by gender identity.

What Happened At The Camas Meet

On October 13, at a dual meet between Camas High School and Battle Ground, roughly a dozen Camas girls stepped off the start line and refused to compete. The girls said they would not race against a teammate they identified as biologically male. Parents and local media documented the walkout, which occurred before the race began. The action drew fast attention online and in regional outlets. Girls who protested said their message was about fairness, safety, and respect for female sports categories.

Named runners explained their choice in plain terms. One athlete, Charlie Garrett, said they learned a biological boy would be in their race and chose to step off the line rather than compete. Another student, Sierra Retzlaff, wrote “Keep Women in Women’s Sports” across her arms and legs to make the point clear. Their protest was not a private complaint. It was a visible, collective act at a league meet with other teams watching.

The Midseason Switch And Why It Matters

Reports say the athlete first raced in a boys’ junior-varsity event on September 5 at the Ultimook meet in Oregon, finishing 76th, then appeared in girls’ races by September 15 at a Camas event. Coverage also links the runner to a women’s elite five-kilometer race later in the season. The shift happened within one season, which raised questions among competitors and parents about consistent categories and the impact on girls’ team standings and meet outcomes.

The record does not show a violation of eligibility rules. Instead, it points to a policy gap the girls rejected. Washington Interscholastic Activities Association rules allow students to compete consistent with gender identity, and reporting says no surgery, hormones, or medical proof are required under the current handbook section. Camas School District says it follows state law and association rules and will not discuss an individual student because of privacy.

What The Rules And Officials Say

Camas School District stated that, under current Washington Interscholastic Activities Association standards, students may participate based on gender identity. The district said it will keep following Washington law and the association’s requirements. The district also said it would not discuss any single student’s eligibility to protect privacy. State officials have described this approach as Washington practice for years, anchoring local decisions in statewide policy.

Camas Girls Walk Off Cross-Country Race in Protest Over #Male Teammate

At a dual meet against Battle Ground, nearly half of the 24 Camas girls refused to run after junior Logan Mihailoff, who switched from the boys team midseason, competed in the girls race and finished second.… https://t.co/xBQQKcbLB8

— BlueBird (@BlueBirdSees) October 14, 2026

Independent reporting has described the association’s policy in clear terms. It says students can compete in line with the gender they most consistently express. It does not require medical procedures, hormone treatment, or proof from a doctor to establish eligibility. A review panel becomes involved only if participation in a sex-separated sport is challenged. That framework makes it possible for a midseason team switch, which is what fueled the Camas protest.

Why Parents And Athletes Are Pushing Back

Parents and girls argue the policy ignores real differences that matter in races that are decided by seconds. They say the rules place girls in no-win choices: stay silent, or speak up and risk backlash. The Camas walkout shows many chose to speak up, together, at cost to their own season. They are not alleging a rule break. They are saying the rule itself erodes fairness for female athletes and undermines trust in competition they trained hard to enter.

Important limits remain in the public record. The reporting does not include the association’s written eligibility decision for this runner, detailed meet scoring impacts, or full race-time comparisons. Names and details vary across accounts. But the basics are solid: a midseason switch occurred under current rules; girls protested at the line; and district officials say they will keep following state policy unless it changes. That leaves lawmakers and association leaders with the next move.

What To Watch Next

Local families are likely to press for a policy that protects girls’ categories by sex, or at least sets clear, sport-specific standards that ensure fair play. League officials could release clearer guidance, gather complete timing data, and show how eligibility reviews work. Lawmakers in many states have already moved to protect women’s sports under Title Nine. Washington leaders now face a direct test: keep the current approach, or set rules that put fairness and female opportunity first.