NewsHK
Parents of opposing high school athletes voiced disapproval at the Nike Hole in the Wall Invitational in Arlington, Washington, after a Camas High School cross country runner switched from the boys team to the girls team midseason.
The switch, which occurred last month, allowed the runner to compete in the Women's Elite 5k, a move that has drawn national attention and placed school officials on the defensive.
The Camas runner initially competed on the boys team, finishing 76th in a junior varsity race. Since moving to the girls team, the athlete has placed first in a varsity meet and second in another invitational.
At Saturday's meet, the runner finished 39th in a field of 135 with a time of 18:36.8. Had the athlete run in the Men's Elite 5k, they would have placed last out of 159 runners by a margin of 30 seconds.
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