New Hampshire Transgender Cross Country Runner Set School Record This Past School Year

A male athlete who identifies as transgender set a school record in girls' cross country in New England this past school year..Niko Cole-Johnson, now a rising senior at Proctor Academy (Andover, New Hampshire), had the fastest 5-kilometer run on the girls' side in school history during the fall 2023 season..Cole-Johnson covered 3.1 miles in 20:55, according to Athletic.net..The transgender-identifying athlete competed in boys' cross country under the same name during the fall 2021 and 2022 seasons, Athletic.net also revealed..Cole-Johnson's father, Erik, is an assistant girls' cross country coach at Proctor Academy..He is a vocal advocate of allowing transgender-identifying male athletes to compete in girls' sports.."My daughter's not a boogeyman; my daughter's not a threat," the elder Cole-Johnson told The Associated Press in May 2024. "Transgender girls are not a threat.".Johnson made this statement in opposition to New Hampshire House Bill 1205, which would ban male athletes from competing in girls' interscholastic sports in New Hampshire in grades 5 through 12. Already passed by both chambers, the bill sits on New Hampshire Senate President Jeb Bradley's desk — ready for him to send to Sununu's desk when he chooses, according to New Hampshire Bulletin..Sununu opposes males competing in girls' sports.."I fundamentally don't believe that biological boys should be competing in girls' sports," Sununu told WMUR in March 2024. "I think it's dangerous.".Sununu also said that, when it comes to this legislation, the top concern cannot be transgender-identifying athletes losing spots on girls' teams.."The bill is not about that individual," Sununu told WMUR on June 27, referring to a transgender high school soccer player named Parker Tirrell. "I mean, I heard those stories and I simply empathize with all of that. But it's not just about that individual. It's about the system as a whole. It's about fairness. It's about safety.."You've seen all across the country other stories of state champions, biological boys becoming state champions," Sununu added. "That affects scholarships. It affects the fairness of competition. It does have a resonating effect. So, no, you never want to look at any law about how it affects one person or just one group. My job is to really look out for and try to pass the best laws and the best policies that affect 1.4 million people.".Males won high school girls' track and field state championships in at least five states this past spring, as NewBostonPost previously reported..One of those states is New Hampshire, where Maelle Jacques won a New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 3 state title in the girls' high jump; Jacques also won an NHIAA Division 2 girls' high jump during the indoor track season earlier in the same school year, as NewBostonPost also reported..ICONS Women, an organization that opposes males competing in girls' sports, was the first to report Cole-Johnson's school record run..Proctor Academy is a private boarding and day high school in Andover, New Hampshire that serves 370 students. Andover is about 23 miles northwest of Concord, New Hampshire, the state's capital..Proctor Academy athletic director Gregor Makechnie could not be reached for comment on Tuesday or Wednesday..New to NewBostonPost? Discover the difference with content that goes beyond the typical Massachusetts news outlets. Stay informed with news and commentary rooted in conservative values—for just $1 a week. Cancel anytime. Don’t wait—join now and see what you’ve been missing!

New Hampshire Transgender Cross Country Runner Set School Record This Past School Year

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