Trans Athlete’s Track Victories Ignite Legal and Social Firestorm in Maine Girls’ Sports

Maine's high school sports scene is making national waves again after a trans athlete from North Yarmouth Academy swept both the girls' 800-meter and 1600-meter races at a recent track meet. This athletic dominance comes as Maine finds itself in a legal tug-of-war between federal mandates and state policies over transgender participation in girls’ sports—a debate that’s as heated as a summer track in July.

The athlete, whose previous finishes include a leap from 172nd in the boys’ 5k division to 4th in the girls’ category last year, also grabbed a podium spot at the state’s Nordic skiing championships in February. The latest track meet saw the runner clocking 5:57.27 in the 1600m, leaving the next closest competitor nearly 20 seconds behind. The 800m was a closer race, with just over a second separating first and second place.

Photographer David Young, who covered the meet, described the scene: "He blew away all the girls in that particular race [the 1600m], there wasn't anybody near him, easily won it." Young noted that the crowd was supportive, with no audible protests—though the online world was a different story. In fact, Young had to remove viral photos from last year’s meet because the backlash from both sides was so fierce, it was like trying to moderate a thousand-person group chat gone rogue.

Social media is once again ablaze, with everyone from Maine politicians to national activists weighing in. State Representative Laurel Libby took to X to argue that girls are being sidelined, saying, "This is NOT fair. Our girls deserve a fair, safe, and level playing field." Libby herself has faced legislative censure and legal action over similar comments in the past. Meanwhile, footage from the event has even been turned into an ad by the women’s activist brand XX-XY Athletics. Apparently, viral moments come with their own merchandise now.

Some Maine athletes have voiced feelings of defeat and frustration, highlighting the emotional toll of competing against trans athletes. One female competitor described the experience as "heartbreaking," adding disbelief that it was happening to her.

On the legal front, the U.S. Department of Justice is suing Maine for not enforcing Trump-era executive orders that would keep biological males out of girls’ sports, citing alleged Title IX violations. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the lawsuit, seeking to restore titles to girls who lost to trans athletes. The DOJ claims Maine is openly defying federal anti-discrimination laws by requiring girls to compete against boys in girls-only events.

Governor Janet Mills and state education officials remain steadfast in their support for trans inclusion, citing the Maine Human Rights Act. Mills has said she’s ready to litigate, signaling that Maine isn’t backing down anytime soon.

Public opinion, however, leans in another direction. A recent American Parents Coalition survey found that 63% of Maine voters think school sports should be restricted by biological sex, and 60% would support a ballot measure to that effect. Even among independents and parents with kids under 18, support for restricting girls’ sports to biological females is strong.