The College Fix

At a California high school track and field qualifier meet on Friday, an 11th grade trans-female runner ended up preventing a biological female finisher from going to the state championships.

According to a Twitter post by the Independent Council on Women’s Sports, Athena Ryan’s second-place finish in the 1,600 meter run displaced Adeline Johnson, who finished fourth.

Video of the award ceremony shows a visibly upset Johnson, who prior to taking her place on the podium gives a “thumbs-down” gesture (pictured).

Meanwhile, pro-women-in-sports protesters who were holding signs and banners reading “Protect Female Sports” were asked to leave the stadium area.

In the video below, you can see a man asking the security guard if protesters had to leave because signs and banners weren’t permitted. The guard replies that they have be outside.

However, a woman off-camera points out that many others were holding up signs inside the stadium.

🏃Trans-identifying male, Athena Ryan (Jr) took 2nd today in the “Girls 1600m” at a CA State Championship qualifier meet in Dublin, CA.

Ryan beamed while 4th place senior, Adeline Johnson gave a thumb down after losing the chance to advance to the State Championships by 1 spot. pic.twitter.com/iY2InxvhJt

— ICONS (@icons_women) May 21, 2023

MORE: Supreme Court decision allows biological male to run girls track in W. Virginia

Ryan, still a junior, blew by female seniors in the field signed to run at NCAA Division 1 schools this coming fall. pic.twitter.com/wFmkImkq6T

— ICONS (@icons_women) May 21, 2023

Video of security removing us for having a banner that read “Protect Female Sports.” You can hear in the video how spectators were unaware a boy had just stolen a spot from a girl at the state championship.@SF_TERF_CENTRAL @XxtraEstroGenny @icons_women #SaveWomensSports pic.twitter.com/lRC1UjdhdJ

— WomenAreReal (@WomenAreReals) May 21, 2023

One woman spectator took great offense to the protesters’ signs (below) saying “That is disgusting … I find that f***in’ offensive. It shouldn’t even f***ing matter. It’s none of your business what someone else does.”

“You have f***ing issues,” the woman continues. “I feel f***ing sorry for all your sorry asses.”

One women found our “Protect Female Sports” banner disgusting and offensive. Note the secretive thank you’s and a high-five by a female athlete at the end. @SF_TERF_CENTRAL @XxtraEstroGenny @icons_women #SaveWomensSports pic.twitter.com/4SHwXYxJI6

— WomenAreReal (@WomenAreReals) May 21, 2023

Ryan’s second-place time of 4:55.91 in the girls’ 1,600 meters wasn’t even close to placing in the top 29 of the boys’ finishers. The 29th — last — place boy had a time of 4:46.54 in the preliminaries.

MORE: Transgender girls finish first, second at Connecticut state HS track championships

IMAGE: Independent Council on Women’s Sports/Twitter screencap

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