A trans-identified male student-athlete will be moving on to compete in California’s track and field state tournament next week after placing second in the women’s 1600-meter race, beating out female competitors that will no longer get the chance to compete for a state title.
Athena Ryan, a biological male, will be advancing to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Track & Field Championships after placing second in the girls’ varsity 1600-meter run on Saturday, finishing behind Hanne Thomsen of Montgomery and ahead of Ellie Buckley of Campolindo, Fox News reports.
Ryan had been competing on the Sonoma Academy’s boy’s track and field team until he transitioned into a female in 2021, according to Daily Mail.
Senior Adeline Johnson, who placed fourth, lost her chances of advancing to the championship meet by one spot and was seen on video during the awards ceremony giving a “thumbs down” while standing next to Ryan who is currently a junior. Johnson,