Full Breakdown
Washington High School Girls Walk Off Cross-Country Meet to Protest Trans Athlete Participation
By Drooid · · How we work
The Walk-Off Protest
At a Camas High School cross-country meet against Battle Ground High, more than a dozen of the 24 Camas girls stopped after the starting gun and walked off the course when a male student who had begun the season on the boys’ team entered the girls’ field. One Battle Ground runner also refused to run, and the walk-off forfeited the girls’ chance to improve postseason prospects.
Background & Context
Washington state policy, administered by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), permits students to compete in the gender category that matches their gender identity. The policy faces a ballot initiative—Initiative 638—that would require K-12 sports categories to be defined strictly by biological sex. The initiative is slated for a statewide vote on November 3.
A federal executive order issued in February 2025 directed agencies to protect female athletic opportunities and prioritize Title IX enforcement when female athletes are required to compete against males in women’s categories. Federal officials opened an investigation into the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in April 2025; state superintendent Chris Reykdal defended the existing eligibility rules.
Key Figures & Groups
- Holly Burns — Camas runner who participated in the walk-off.
- Kevin Burns — Holly’s father, vocal supporter of the protest.
- Logan Mihailoff — student who identifies as female and switched from the boys’ to the girls’ division mid-season.
- Travis Drake — Camas principal, who said the district must follow current WIAA rules.
- Matt LeGrand — Camas head coach.
- Chris Reykdal — Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
- Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) — governing body.
Timeline
- September 5 – Logan Mihailoff placed 76th of 301 runners in a boys’ junior- varsity 5K.
- September 15 – Two female runners walked off during a meet against Skyview; a parent received a year-long criminal trespass notice after protesting with signs.
- October (meet) – Camas girls walked off after the male athlete entered the girls’ field.
- November 3 – Washington voters will decide Initiative 638.
Data & Statistics
- 13 of 24 Camas runners (about 50 %) left the October race.
- After switching divisions, Mihailoff finished second of 195 runners at the Nike Portland XC Invitational and recorded a time of 19:28 at the October meet.
Official Statements & Responses
State Superintendent Chris Reykdal affirmed that Washington has allowed gender-identity-based participation since 2007 and will continue to enforce those laws unless federal or congressional action changes the legal framework. The WIAA reiterated that its eligibility standards remain unchanged.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don’t see how it’s OK to discriminate against my daughter and the daughters of everyone else that is trying to fairly compete,” — Kevin Burns
- “I just think it’s unfair. A biological boy has bigger lung capacity, more muscles and longer legs so they can run faster. They’ll kick a girl who has worked really hard out of a spot she deserves,” — Holly Burns
- “I would say it’s been hard for the team. For young athletes it’s a very difficult situation for a wide variety of reasons. It’s been a struggle for the team and it’s hard on the coaches too. The coaches and administration are doing wonderfully despite everything they’re going through,” — Matt LeGrand
What’s Next
Washington voters will decide Initiative 638 on November 3. If approved, the measure would take effect 30 days after the election, potentially altering eligibility rules before the state cross-country championships scheduled for early November. The Burns family indicated they may organize a more coordinated protest at future meets.
