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John Anzalone, Camas School District Superintendent, Says Girls Who Left the Cross-Country Starting Line in Protest Will Face No Consequences

Washington school officials protested after a male athlete competed in a girls track meet

Camas School District Superintendent John Anzalone discusses with Outkick the girls' cross country runners who walked off the track in protest of competing with a male athlete.

For one question, Camas School District Superintendent John Anzalone chose not to answer as a principal, but as a father.

He's tackling what might be the most controversial and controversial sports story in the country right now, and he understands the angst of many teenagers.

The anger came to a head Tuesday when about a dozen runners from the Camas High School girls cross country team left the starting line when a gun went off in their race against Battleground, Washington State School. why They objected to their male teammate's competition with women.

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Last month, a Camas sophomore moved up to the girls team midway through the season after finishing 76th in the boys race. He has since won one collegiate race and placed second in two others. Unsurprisingly, this has become a national story with outcry from teammates and opponents alike. Anzalo did not take sides in this matter, but he empathizes with the plight of the students.

"It's always hard to see students get upset, let alone our families. And I know this has polarized our country for a long time. Time, and this has probably added to it, right." "And so, as a father, it's always hard to see your kids, or any kids, in the middle of something like that," Anzalo said. And that's probably been the most heartbreaking for me, is seeing some of the students really in this, right? They're kids so it's been challenging and it's always going to be tough."

It's hard to know how Anzlon or anyone involved with the school feels about the biological male competing in these tournaments with the boys after the year started. When asked about the issue, they were either neutral (Anzalone) or mute (the coaching staff). But at a meeting in Arlington, Washington, last Saturday, many parents made their opposition clear. And increasingly, athletes are doing the same.

This is not an easy task. Despite most of the country supporting the separation of biological males and females in sports, the vocal minority can be vicious. One parent told me last week she didn't want to speak out because "I don't want my house to burn down," while one girl who protested last month said some of her friends disapproved of her.

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But Anzalone wanted to make it clear that there will be no consequences for the Camas girls who stepped out of line Tuesday.

"The girls have the right to do it as they see fit, and I was at the meeting and it was peaceful. And of course, we support whatever they want to do." "I felt like it wasn't just about supporting and protecting (the male runner)," Anzalo said. It was really about support and providing that space for girls who came out to do that and not feel any repercussions. And of course some of them looked very sad. I think some of them were very contradictory. But they are also teenagers. They are still children."

Next up on the Camas cross country program is the Greater St. Louis Area meet. Helen's League is on October 21st. A parent of one of the Camas runners who protested Tuesday said she wasn't sure how the girls would fare. But the regional meet only allows seven varsity runners per team, meaning a male runner is likely to displace one of his female teammates.

Anzalone said that no action will be taken to prevent such a scenario.

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“As long as WIAA policy allows (the biological male) to run, and he is eligible to run, he will continue to run. "Nothing has changed." "We don't take a political stance as a school," Anzlon said. We just won't and can't. And so, as long as that policy stands, we will follow that policy."

The male runner's midseason switch didn't break any rules. According to Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) policy, students are allowed to compete on teams that match their gender identity. That could change, though.On the November 3 ballot in Washington is Initiative 638, which would require students in K-12 sports to compete on teams that correspond to their biological sex. A spokeswoman for Let's Go Washington, the group behind the plan, said the measure would go into effect 30 days after the Nov. 3 election (though delays in certifying results could push that timeline back.)

The cross country season will be over by then, but I-638 will prevent similar situations in the future.

About a dozen girls pulled out of a cross country meet in Washington on Tuesday after refusing to compete with a male athlete who had started the season on the boys' team. (Amy Souza)

Camas will comply with whatever rules are in place, Anzalone said.

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"I'm at a point where I have to stand by politics and the law," he said. And like I said before, if that changes or goes in a different direction, we'll follow it."

The Camas School District issued its own statement on the matter on Wednesday.

"The Camas School District recognizes that students and community members have differing views on the eligibility of sports and have the right to peacefully express those views. It is our responsibility to ensure that school-sponsored events remain safe and respectful for all participants, staff and spectators."

As a Washington public school district and a member of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), Camas follows applicable state laws and WIAA eligibility rules. RCW 28A.642 prohibits discrimination in public schools based on gender identity and gender expression, and current WIAA rules allow students to participate in athletics consistent with their gender identity. The District does not independently determine these eligibility standards.

We will continue to prioritize the safety, privacy and well-being of students. We do not discuss students' eligibility, personal circumstances or potential disciplinary issues."

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