A trans-identifying male athlete from Cicero-North Syracuse High School has won the New York state championship in girls’ shot put, beating the second-place finisher by more than two feet. Julia (formerly ‘Jeff’) Arnold posted a winning throw of 39 feet, 9.25 inches at the NYSPHSAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

State Policy Under Fire

New York state currently allows athletes to compete based on their gender identity rather than biological sex, a policy that has been criticized by some as unfair to female athletes. This policy is at odds with President Donald Trump’s February 2025 executive order, ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,’ which directed federal agencies to interpret Title IX protections on the basis of biological sex.

Arnold’s victory has sparked controversy over the state’s policy, with some arguing that it gives trans-identifying male athletes an unfair advantage over their female competitors. The issue has been debated nationwide, with some states implementing policies that require athletes to compete based on their biological sex.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.