Oregon Girls Turn Backs On Medal Ceremony With Trans-Identifying Competitor

Two girls who competed at the Oregon track and field state championships refused to stand on the medal podium alongside a biologically male competitor on Saturday night.

Alexa Anderson of Tigard High School and Reese Eckard of Sherwood High School, both seniors, stepped down from the medal podium for long jump in protest of a trans-identifying athlete’s participation.

“We didn’t refuse to stand on the podium out of hate. We did it because someone has to say this isn’t right. In order to protect the integrity and fairness of girls sports we must stand up for what is right,” said Anderson in a statement to Fox News.

The male athlete, who now goes by the name Liaa Rose, competed in the boys’ category in 2023 when he went by the name Zachary and in 2024, by then changing his name to Liaa. In 2023 and 2024, Rose largely competed in junior varsity boys’ competitions.

Rose, now a high school senior, tied for fifth place in the 6A high school girls’ high jump state championship. Anderson placed third and Eckard placed fourth.

Video of the medal ceremony shows Anderson and Eckard standing off the podium with their backs turned to the ceremony. An official walks up to them and appears to direct them to step away, after which the two girls begin to walk off.

Oregon girls high jump state championships just finished. 2 of the females refused to step on the podium with the male competitor and an adult official relegated them to the sideline for refusing. THIS MUST END. https://t.co/dxIzL8Qf95 pic.twitter.com/mAVVNBIPhW

— Leigh Ann O'Neill (@LaLONeill) May 31, 2025

The Trump administration has turned protecting female sports into a priority for the federal government. In February, President Donald Trump signed an order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The administration has since engaged in a high-profile fight with Maine over its handling of issues around trans-dentifying athletes competing in female sports.

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Trump threatened California last week with a similar fight with the federal government over a biologically male competitor who has been at the top of several events in California high school girls’ track and field.

“California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow ‘MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.’ This week a transitioned Male athlete, at a major event, won ‘everything,’ and is now qualified to compete in the ‘State Finals’ next weekend. As a Male, he was a less than average competitor. As a Female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable. THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,” Trump posted on his Truth Social last week in an apparent reference to AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley, a biological male who is competing in girls track and field in California.

“Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to,” Trump added.

While the Trump administration has fought against men in women’s sports through the levers of government, individual female athletes have made their own protests against male competitors.

Reese Hogan of Crean Lutheran High School took the place of Hernandez at the top spot of the medal podium after he stepped down following a competition in May. Hogan was the top-finishing girl, though still behind Hernandez, who was given first place.