A cross country runner switched to the girls team midseason, parents voice their disapproval at meet

"Nobody wants to talk to you.

I'm trying to be nice." That was the not-so-nice greeting I got from a Camas High assistant cross country coach in Arlington, Washington on Saturday.

It came as I stood near the start line for the Women's Elite 5k race at the Nike Hole in the Wall High School XC Invitational.

All I had done at that point was try to introduce myself, but it was clear that everybody involved with the school was on guard.

The reason? One of the Camas runners entered in the Women's Elite 5K was a biological male.

AMERICANS CLASH OVER TRANSGENDER ATHLETES AS DEBATE HEATS UP: ‘JUST GETTING OUTRAGEOUS' What's unique about this particular trans athlete is that he started the year on the boys team — with which he finished 76th in a JV race — then switched to the girls team last month.

He has since taken first place in a varsity meet and finished second in a different invitational.

This, as you might imagine, has sparked national attention, putting everyone at Camas on the defensive.

But that assistant was wrong about one thing: Lots of people — mainly parents from opposing schools — wanted to talk to me.

"We're about as liberal as it gets.

I just don't agree with that [boys competing against girls].

I mean, if they find your body in 300 years, what are they going to say you were," said Kent Lake of Lake Stevens, WA.

"Look, you can live any way you want.

You got my blessing.