Track Star Protests Transgender Participation
High school track athlete Alexa Anderson chose to step away from the championship podium, feeling conflicted about sharing accolades with her transgender competitors, which she feels is unjust.
“We knew we had to highlight this issue and show our representatives that our athletes were not okay with the situation we found ourselves in,” the 18-year-old explained.
On Saturday, Anderson, a senior at Tiguard High School, secured third place in the Oregon State Athletic Association women’s high jump final. Lear Rose, a transgender athlete from Ida B. Wells High School, came in fifth, with Anderson jumping 5 feet 4.25 inches, while Rose cleared 5 feet 1.65 inches.
When the top eight athletes were called to the podium for scoring, Anderson along with Reese Eckard, a senior from Sherwood High School, decided to turn away in protest.
“I felt a lot of pressure just looking around,” Anderson admitted. “It made me question what was happening and why. But all female athletes deserve to compete on an equal footing, whether it’s in elementary, middle, or high school.”
Going into the tournament, Anderson was aware that if Rose had been placed in the boys’ division in 2023 and 2024, she likely wouldn’t have made it to the podium at all. Over the past few years, Anderson had developed a friendly rivalry with Eckard, but they had agreed to withdraw together in this instance.
Although several girls who made it to the podium were reportedly in solidarity, when it came time to act, Anderson retreated.
The crowd at Hayward Field was silent as the two faced officials. They were instructed not to obstruct photos once they made it clear they would not participate.
Though Anderson and Eckard were the only ones to make their stance public, Anderson noted that Rose’s presence had caused unease among her teammates throughout the season.
“There was confusion in the overall sentiment, and I was worried about our sport’s integrity,” she recalled. “The girls I spoke with were anxious that their chances would be undermined, or that they wouldn’t make it to championships because biological males were outperforming them.”
Since the protest, Anderson received a mix of supportive messages from the public, stating, “Many have expressed gratitude for standing up for my beliefs. On the flip side, some have not been so kind.”
“Some perspectives have been harsh,” she shared. “There are folks at school who are upset and gossiping, but diving into such a controversial topic, I suppose, caught me off guard.”
Anderson, who joined the track team as a freshman, is set to graduate soon and will attend South Alabama University. She’s planning to study exercise science and marine biology while continuing her athletic career.
She expressed her support for a federal ban on trans athletes competing in women’s sports. Although such a measure was enacted by President Trump through Title IX in February, states like Oregon continue to allow these athletes to participate.
“Title IX aimed to eliminate gender-based discrimination in sports, and now we are facing discrimination again, just of a different nature,” she pointed out. “While biological women must compete against biological men, the original goal of Title IX was to prevent that. It aimed to ensure equal opportunities for biological women.”
Anderson is represented by the American First Policy Institute, which has called on federal authorities to investigate potential Title IX violations stemming from Saturday’s competition and is considering pursuing lawsuits.
“I’ve been an athlete my whole life, and women’s sports have meant a lot to me,” she stated. “By allowing biological men to compete in the women’s division, we’re taking opportunities away from young girls who have worked tirelessly to pursue their dreams.”
