Biological Male Runner Named Conference’s Female ‘Athlete of the Week’

A biological male runner who identifies as a female was named the Big Sky Conference women’s cross country athlete of the week last week, sparking – yet again – a debate over fairness in women’s sports and the collegiate rules that govern transgender athletes.

The University of Montana’s June Eastwood won the honor after finishing second in a field of 204 runners at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational in Sunnyvale, Calif. It was only the latest impressive finish for Eastwood, who finished first at an Oct. 4 meet and third at a Sept. 21 race.

But last year Eastwood was known as Jonathan Eastwood and competed on the Montana men’s cross country and track teams. Eastwood finished seventh in May 2018 in the men’s 1,500-meter run at the conference’s outdoor championship.    

Eastwood’s picture and bio as a male athlete is still listed on the athletic department’s website as a former member of the men’s team. Now, though, Eastwood identifies as a female athlete and is listed on the website as June Eastwood and a member of the women’s team.  

Eastwood won multiple state titles as a male in high school, according to KULR-TV in Billings, Mont.

Under NCAA rules governing transgender athletes, Eastwood had to sit out one year and undergo testosterone suppression treatments for 12 months in order to compete as a female. Eastwood,…