Amid Jeers, Verénica Garcia Claims Victory—and Her Voice—at Washington State Track Finals
Seventeen-year-old Verénica Garcia didn’t just race to reclaim her title in the 400-meter dash at Mount Tahoma High School—she showed up with something stronger than speed: unwavering resolve.
On May 31, at the Washington Class 2A State Track Championships in Tacoma, the East Valley High School athlete crossed the finish line first with a time of 55.70 seconds, improving her personal best and defending her crown from the previous year.
But beyond the stopwatch and finish line, her performance became a statement—one made amid heckling, political protest, and growing national scrutiny of transgender athletes.
As Verénica prepared to compete, a man in the stands—clad in a “Save Women’s Sports” T-shirt printed with an American flag—began shouting pointed remarks in her direction.
Stationed near the starting blocks, he loudly repeated phrases like “girls race” and “let’s go girls,” in an apparent effort to unsettle her. Witnesses noted the clear targeting of Garcia, a transgender girl who has become both an elite athlete and, unintentionally, a lightning rod for a larger cultural debate.
But rather than be rattled, Verénica turned her anger into fuel.
“I expected it,” she later told the Seattle Times. “But they didn’t get what they wanted. It didn’t shake me—it lit a fire in me. The kind that drives you forward.”
Following her emphatic win, Garcia proudly held up a handwritten sign:
“Washington State Track and Field Real Girls 2A 400m Champion.”
It was a bold, defiant moment—her way of asserting identity, pride, and victory all at once.
Her nearest challenger, Lauren Matthew of West Valley, trailed a full second behind. In a post-race interview with the Spokesman-Review, Matthew expressed frustration, saying, “I shouldn’t have to push myself to the point of almost collapsing just to win,” before misgendering Garcia, adding, “I don’t want a man making me have to.”
Garcia, however, chose to respond not in kind, but with conviction and grace. “It’s sad to see people invest their energy into tearing others down,” she said. “But their actions speak for themselves. I’m proud because I stayed focused and didn’t let them derail me.”
Quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., she added, “He talked about doing what’s right even when it’s not easy. That’s what I try to live by.”
This latest victory cements Verénica Garcia’s place atop the podium—but more significantly, it highlights the perseverance required simply to compete as her authentic self. In a climate where athletic performance is too often overshadowed by political tension, Garcia’s race became more than a sprint. It became a quiet but powerful act of resistance.
For those watching—whether in the stadium or online—it served as a reminder: true strength isn’t only about speed or endurance. It’s about dignity in the face of hostility, and the courage to keep running your race, no matter who’s shouting from the sidelines.