Female runners stage subtle but striking protest as trans winner who beat them by a full second in race takes gold medal to boos from crowd

A group of female runners stood in silence, with their hands behind their backs after being beaten by a transgender teen athlete in the 400-meter dash at the Washington State Championship on Saturday.

Veronica Garcia, a 16-year-old transgender high school runner of the East Valley School District in Spokane, Washington finished with a time of 55.75 - a full second ahead of the first biologically female runner. 

Although there was cheering as the participants crossed the finish line, it was when Garcia, an eleventh-grader, ascended the podium that boos and jeering could clearly be heard at the WIAA State Championship Meet in Tacoma, Washington. 

While Garcia's fellow racers had applauded other female finishers, when the trans runner assumed her first place position to receive her medal, the other girls, who range in age from 16 to 18, stood stoically in protest at the result. 

Lauren Matthew of the West Valley School District, who came second in the race,  did not have the power to keep up with Garcia and came a full second behind her with a time of 56.75.

But had Garcia, who was born male, been running in the equivalent boy's race, she wouldn't have even managed 16th place - with the slowest boy finishing at 53.12 - more than 2.5 seconds clear of Garcia's time.  

Trans high school runner Veronica Garcia, 16, won the Girls 400m race in the 2A division at the WIAA State Championship Meet in Tacoma, Washington a full second ahead of her rival

Garcia could be seen powering ahead of her female rivals as appeared to take things in her strike as she crossed the finish line

When Garcia mounted the podium, there was no applause for her. Only booing could be heard

As the host announced Matthew's name, all the girls gathered on the stadium and clapping and cheering for her respectable second place finish. 

Veronica Garcia came in first place with a time of 55.75. Had she been racing boys, she wouldn't have even placed in the top 16

But as first place was awarded to Garcia there was virtual silence in the stadium. 

Her fellow runners stood on the podium in complete silence with their hands behind their back.

In a clear sign of disapproval, there was a stunned silence in the crowd until someone could be heard calling out Veronica's name, to which she gave a thumbs up. 

It's the latest in a series of wins for Garcia who appears to be performing far better than when she competed on the boy's team. 

Last month she finished 13th in a field of 152 girls at the Washington State 2A Championships following a cross country meet.

But last year, Garcia could only manage 164th out of 172 in the boy's 5000m at a regional championship held in the fall.

Public schools in Washington State specify that all students who participate in physical education and athletics are able to take part in the category that corresponds to their gender identity without the need to provide evidence of a medical transition.

Following Garcia's win, Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer who campaigns against allowing trans athletes to compete in women's sport, took to social media

Washington State runner Veronica Garcia aka Davina Brown aka Donovan Brown won the 1600 Sprint Medley Relay last month

Veronica Garcia, left, is seen having helped win East Valley High School win a girls' district team title this season

Veronica Garcia also helped East Valley HS win a girls' district team title this season. She is seen in first place on the podium wearing glasses

Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer, campaigns against allowing trans athletes to compete in women's sport

On Saturday evening, following Garcia's win, Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer who campaigns against allowing trans athletes to compete in women's sport, took to social media and posted video of the race.  

'Would you look at that...the thing that never happens happened again.

'Veronica Garcia (Donovan Brown) just won the Washington State Championship in the girls' 400m in total domination.' 

Gaines became an anti trans activist after she tied for fifth place with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in a 2022 swim meet. However, Thomas was handed the trophy over Gaines. 

The Kentucky swimmer has since joined forces with a dozen college athletes who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Thursday, accusing it of violating their Title IX rights by allowing Thomas to compete at the competition.