Rose’s jump of 4 feet, 8 inches would not have placed in the boys’ 2023 competition but won the girls’ category this year.
A male athlete identifying as female won first place in a girls’ high school high jump last week, days after the U.S. Department of Education launched a federal investigation into the school district. Zachary Rose, now known as “Lia,” recorded a personal best of 4 feet, 8 inches at the Portland Interscholastic League Varsity Relays, surpassing three second-place girls by two inches.
Rose had placed last among 11 boys in the same event in 2023 with a 4-foot-6 jump. The same mark would have won this year’s girls’ competition had Rose not competed. Portland Public Schools declined to confirm Rose’s gender identity, citing FERPA protections.
The investigation stems from a March 19 track meet where Aayden “Ada” Gallagher, another male athlete, won the girls’ 400- and 200-meter races. “We will not allow… federal funds to trample on the antidiscrimination protections,” said Craig Trainor, U.S. Civil Rights official.
