Roughly a dozen Camas High School cross-country runners walked off the course on October 13, 2026, forfeiting a dual meet against Battle Ground in Washington. The protest followed a midseason roster switch by an athlete, intensifying a statewide debate over high school sports eligibility ahead of the November 3 vote on Initiative 638.
The October 13 Protest at Camas High School
About a dozen runners on the Camas High School girls‘ cross-country team stepped away from the starting line during an Oct. 13 dual meet against Battle Ground. When the starter’s gun went off, roughly half of the field began racing while the protesting Camas athletes walked past the line and into a nearby tree line, sacrificing their times and positions in the meet.
The action centered on a runner who began the season competing on the boys’ team before switching to the girls’ varsity roster midseason. Race records show the athlete competed in an Oregon boys’ junior varsity 5K on September 5, 2026, finishing 76th with a time of 23:10.1 at the Ultimook Race. Just weeks later, the runner entered the girls’ division, placing second out of 195 runners in the girls’ junior/senior junior varsity race at the Nike Portland XC Invitational on September 26.
Photo: The Daily Chronicle
The midseason switch drew immediate pushback from rival runners and parents. Skyview High School cross-country runners Charlie Garrett and Sierra Retzlaff participated in an earlier protest on September 15 when the Camas runner competed against Skyview. Garrett and Retzlaff wrote keep women in women’s sports on their limbs with body paint and stopped running a few meters into the race.
Kevin and Sarah Burns, parents of Camas runner Holly Burns, discussed why their daughter and her teammates decided to walk off the course. Kevin Burns said that they advised their daughter to do what she felt was best and right, noting that as more teammates expressed interest in a protest, they chose to offer full support. Sarah Burns stated that standing up for what she believes is right will allow her to face her Lord and Savior with a clear conscience, while her husband emphasized that taking a stand carries consequences and costs. NRCC Spokesman Christian Martinez weighed in on the controversy by offering strong praise for the athletes, stating, These Camas girls showed more courage at the starting line than Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has ever shown in Congress, and Southwest Washington should send this spineless fraud packing.
Washington Interscholastic Rules and District Responses
School and athletic authorities maintained that the roster change followed all existing governance standards. The Camas School District stated that it adhered to state guidelines and rules set by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), declining further comment because the situation involved a student.
Photo: SuaraGarut.ID
Under current WIAA policies, student-athletes may participate in school sports that match their gender identity. School personnel work alongside athletes to determine eligibility, and the WIAA handbook explicitly states that students do not need to provide medical or legal documentation to qualify.
Students do not need to provide medical or legal documentation to participate in athletics matching their gender identity.
Girls cross-country runners walk off meet in protest of male athlete.
Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, WIAA Handbook
When Kevin and Sarah Burns—parents of protesting Camas runner Holly Burns—arrived at the October 13 meet carrying supporting signs, security personnel challenged them. Kevin Burns stated that security guards told him holding signs was prohibited on school grounds, and followed him demanding he leave when he refused to put the sign down.
The Camas School District explained to KIRO Newsradio that staff asked individuals displaying signs to move to the public sidewalk. The district noted that the instructions aimed to maintain order and safety rather than restrict particular viewpoints, while affirming the right of individuals to express their views.
Statewide Policy Debates and Initiative 638
The walkout thrust local high school athletics directly into Washington’s midterm political landscape. Voters across the state are scheduled to decide Initiative 638 on November 3, 2026. The ballot measure proposes banning biologically male students from competing in female-only K-12 interschool athletic competitions and would require biological sex verification from a healthcare provider.
Photo: Sey Everything
Supporters of the initiative argue that physical differences established during male puberty create competitive imbalances. I felt that it was unfair for me and that girls were having our opportunities taken away by something we couldn’t control, said Charlie Garrett, a junior captain on the Skyview team.
Even if voters approve Initiative 638, the measure would take effect 30 days after the election, meaning it will not apply in time for the state cross-country championships scheduled for November 7. Camas scheduled its next championship meet for October 21 at Lewisville Regional Park, leaving athletes and administrators to navigate existing WIAA guidelines through the remainder of the postseason.
High school girls WALK OFF race in protest over biological male athlete
Daniel Richardson is the Editor-in-Chief of Archysport, where he leads the editorial team and oversees all published content across nine sport verticals. With over 15 years in sports journalism, Daniel has reported from the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games, NFL Super Bowls, NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tennis tournaments. He previously served as Senior Sports Editor at Reuters and holds a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. Recognized by the Sports Journalists' Association for excellence in reporting, Daniel is a member of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). His editorial philosophy centers on accuracy, depth, and fair coverage — ensuring every story published on Archysport meets the highest standards of sports journalism.
