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A race that had the potential to stir passions on both sides has been cancelled due to air quality in Wenatchee.
The meet director in Wenatchee informed participating schools of the following, according to LBHS Athletic Director Michael Wilbur:
We held out hope that it was going to get better, but unfortunately, the smoke is bad again today and we’ve made the decision to cancel the meet. I spoke with a meteorologist at the national weather service and they thought that it’s not highly likely that wind will get rid of the smoke we have right now in time for the meet. I thank you so much all for your interest in our meet and I hope that you are willing to come back in 2026. If you have already paid, we will issue a refund as soon as we can.
LBHS middle and high school students were warned yesterday about the likelihood of protests due to a biological male athlete competing in the girls’ division.
Ahnaleigh Wilson, a tenth grader in Eastmont High School in East Wenatchee, was in eighth grade in May 2024 when she raced against a Liberty Bell Middle School transgender athlete at the Junior Olympics in Cashmere. Wilson came in second to the athlete. She told her story on social media and television and received national attention.
The Washington Family Rights Coalition included that event in a complaint to the Office of Civil Rights within the U.S. Department of Education. The complaint was filed against the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Gov. Bob Ferguson. Other school districts, like the Kennewick School District, joined the complaint.
In February, President Trump signed an executive order banning transgender girls and women from participating in girls and women’s sports. That month, Moses Lake School District sent a letter to Ferguson and State Superintendent Chris Reykdal stating they would follow federal directives and not state law when it comes to allowing biological boys to compete against biological girls. The school district received a letter of rebuke from OSPI.
The federal Office of Civil Rights launched an investigation of OSPI in May 2025.
The Liberty Bell High School team has four meets before the district and state championships. Eastmont and LBHS will face meet again on Oct. 4 in Spokane.
