Oregon 10th grader Aayden Gallagher ended a dream season in winning style on Saturday. She achieved victory in the OSAA Class 6A 200-meter final at the state championship meet, clocking in at 23.82 seconds. The event was held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon. The transgender athlete also secured a silver medal in the 400-meter event.
The Portland McDaniel High School sophomore has come up as a standout in high school track. Her presence has also sparked discussions about transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Gallagher was trailing behind rival Aster Jones for most of the race. Jones is a fellow sophomore and the Class 6A 100-meter gold medalist from Portland Roosevelt. The two had previously faced off in April at the Sherwood Need for Speed Classic, where Jones won decisively with Gallagher finishing second.
Before her 200-meter win, Gallagher competed in the 400-meter final. Lake Oswego senior Josie Donelson aimed to repeat her quadruple gold success from 2023. Donelson extended her lead through the first 200 meters, but Gallagher matched her pace and reclaimed the lead at the 300-meter mark.
The final stretch saw Donelson showcase her dominance, winning with a state record time of 52.83 seconds. She became the first Oregon high school girl to break the 53-second barrier. Gallagher’s 52.98-second finish earned her the silver medal and was the second-fastest time in Oregon high school track history.
Gallagher’s achievements have not been without controversy. As she crossed the finish line in both finals, loud boos were heard from the stadium, especially after her 200-meter win. Reports of heightened security around Gallagher emerged, with a fan in the stands confirming the presence of additional measures.
Criticism arose when Gallagher did not shake hands with her competitors. But video footage revealed that security swiftly escorted her off the track after her win, possibly to ensure her safety.
A fan stated: “There was extra security in place for that ceremony. But it did not take away the air of blatant transphobia that was circulating around the stadium.”
Aayden Gallagher accepted her gold medal with a smile, celebrating a highly successful state championship debut with a gold and silver medal.
