As a retired teacher/coach (27 years with the ESD) I found Track and Field to be a unique sport as it offered avenues for all different types of student/athletes and serves not only as a unique sport on it’s own but a way to improve skills in other sports.

And as a middle school and high school track coach in the ESD and others previously in Oregon I was always proud of the numbers and varied types of students who participated.

And with the recent conclusion of the WIAA track and field meet this last weekend I am left with the quandary of transgender athletes. Does everyone deserve to participate, transgender or not? Yes. Is it fair that female athletes compete against superior transgender athletes? No.

Solutions? Leave it as is under Washington State law? No.

My solutions? Offer a different category at the District/State Level? Maybe that would draw more transgender athletes to compete and isn’t that the goal of sports in public schools?

My personal tweak? At the district/state level offer multiple same places. I.E. if the trans athlete wins, offer two first places and third becomes second. It the trans athlete takes, say, third, offer two third places and fifth becomes fourth. It isn’t perfect (and is there for this situation?) but it might be a tweak that works.

Dan Schwartz

Bonney Lake