CT Mirror discusses debate about participation of transgender athletes

Canton junior Chelsea Mitchell leads Bloomfield’s Terry Miller and Cromwell’s Andraya Yearwood in the finals of the 100 meters at the Class S championship meet in May in New Britain.

The Connecticut Mirror examines the polarizing discussion surrounding the participation of two transgender girls – Bloomfield’s Terry Miller and Cromwell’s Andraya Yearwood — in high school girls track and field here in Connecticut.

Selina Soule, a junior at Glastonbury High, and two other girls filed a complaint with the with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights in June arguing that their Title IX rights have been violated by a policy that they say pits girls against athletes who are biologically male despite their female gender identity. They contend the situation has robbed them of top finishes and possibly college scholarships.

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) policy allows transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports.

Miller set new state records in winning the 100 and 200 meters in last May’s Class S championship race. Canton’s Chelsea Mitchell was second in both races. Miller won the State Open title in the 200 meters and went onto to win a second consecutive New England championship in the 200.

Miller was in the 100 meter final at the State Open but was disqualified for a false start. That left the window open for Mitchell, who won her first State Open championship in the 100 meters and went onto capture the New England title in the 100.

Mitchell won a State Open title in the 100 and was second in the long jump. She was fourth in the 200 meters.

Miller ran at Bulkeley High in Hartford as a sophomore but transferred to Bloomfield for the 2018-19 school year. As a sophomore, Miller won the State Open and New England titles in the 100 and 200 meters.

Read more with the Connecticut Mirror

Bloomfield’s Terry Miller, left, and Cromwell’s Andraya Yearwood, right were honored by the Connecticut Sports Writers Alliance with the Bob Casey Courage award at the recent Gold Key banquet. George Albano, center, of the CSWA stands with the two athletes.

Recent results in outdoor track and field

2019 Class S championships
100 meters: 1. Terry Miller, Bloomfield, 11.93, new Class S record, 2. Chelsea Mitchell, Canton, 12.02, 3. Andraya Yearwood, Cromwell, 12.28
200 meters: 1. Terry Miller, Bloomfield, 24.47, new Class S record, 2. Chelsea Mitchell, Canton, 24.79. Yearwood did not compete in the 200 meters

2019 State Open
100 meters: 1. Chelsea Mitchell, Canton 11.67, 2. Cori Richardson, Windsor, 11.92, 3. Alanna Smith, Danbury, 12.04, 4. Andraya Yearwood, Cromwell, 12.22. Mitchell DQ due to a false start. Top five finishers qualify for New England championships
200 meters: 1. Terry Miller, Bloomfield, 24.33, 2. Cori Richardson, Windsor, 24.75, 3. Alanna Smith, Danbury, 25.01, 4. Chelsea Mitchell, Canton, 25.24

2019 New England championships
100 meters: 1. Chelsea Mitchell, Canton 12.20, 2. Cori Richardson, Windsor, 12.25, 3. Caroline Schissel, Amesbury, MA 12.43.
200 meters: 1. Terry Miller, Bloomfield, 24.57, 2. Cori Richardson, Windsor, 24.76, 3. Alanna Smith, Danbury, 25.02, 4. Emma Gallant, Cheverus-Portland ME 25.21, 5. Chelsea Mitchell, Canton, 25.36