Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
Participation in girls’ school sports has accelerated under federal Title 9 requirements passed in 1972. Doors were opened in track & field, tennis, basketball, softball, volleyball, swimming, gymnastics, cross country and more. Sports build endurance, improve stamina, and help participants reach personal goals.
In Camas, a biological male athlete ran on the JV boys’ cross country team for two seasons, then ran on the boys’ team for the Sept 5, 2026 Ultimook Race, finishing 76th. The athlete then switched to the girls’ varsity team and has placed higher in recent races.
Top runners in varsity girls’ 5000-meter run
Sept 15 Skyview/Camas Lily Collett Camas 1st, Josie Rehrer Camas 2nd, Maddy McCollum-Skyview 3rd Sept 29, Union/Camas Biological male Camas 1st, Natalie Estrada Camas 2nd, Frances Amerding-Union 3rd Oct. 13 BattleGround/Camas Sophia Rogers Battle Ground 1st, MBiological male athlete-Camas 2nd, Lily Collett-Camas 3rd High school athletes share their perspective. Charlie says, “It troubles me that spots are being taken away from me at bigger meets like districts, regionals and state. Athlete’s spots are being taken away and scholarships are being taken away.’’
Sierra says,”If they don’t separate us, eventually all the top runners will be all biological boys.’’
Analeigh and Frances say, “Biological men are competing in girls’ sports in Washington State, and it’s destroying fairness in girls’ sports. Title 9 created opportunities for women and girls to compete in sports, and those opportunities are being erased. As [two] female athletes who have been directly impacted by boys competing in girls’ sports, we are standing up for all 110,000 girls playing sports in Washington state middle and high schools.”
More female athletes are fighting to keep Title 9 Protections for girls in sports.
In 2026 so far, area boys XC runners are faster than the girls. In 2026, 4A Districts 3&4 Cross Country:
5,000 Meters for Boys #1 time -14.54.7 minutes
5,000 Meters for Girls #1 time -18.03.3 minutes
Advocacy group HeCheated.org reports that boys increasingly claim Top-3 medals and honors in events for female athletes. They identified over 2,538 Top 3 Finishes by males in girls’ K-12 Sports.
Initiative 638 on the Ballot -Tuesday Nov. 3-will protect fairness in girls’ sports by prohibiting biological men from competing in female athletics. This measure would uphold title 9 by requiring the enforcement of policies prohibiting students it defines as “biologically male” from competing with or against female students in certain interschool athletic activities that are intended for female students only. No one is banned from playing sports.
Opponents of I-638 focus on gender verification. Proponents note a sports physical has been required for years, and a saliva test is available. Vancouver City Councilor Diana Perez voted to Oppose I-638 on Oct 5, 2026. She is on the ballot for State Rep. in the 17th Legislative District.
Margaret Tweet
Camas
Comments
Loading comments…