The state of California is facing scrutiny after the high school sports governing is allowing a biological male to face off against girls in the State Track & Field Championships.

Competing in the 1,600-meter race, an athlete named Athena Ryan of Sonoma Academy won 2nd place, which qualifies for the championship.

🚨 POLL: Should athletes compete based on biological sex?
YES 👍 or NO 👎

This eliminated Ellie Buckley of Campolindo.

Protesters at the track meet held a banner that read, “Protect Female Sports.”

Ryan, who is a junior at the high school, advances to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Track & Field Championships.

More on this story via Fox News:

“I find that f—ing offensive.” Another video showed security chasing down the women who were holding the banner.

Ryan, a junior, appeared to undeterred by the protests and controversy. Ryan finished with a 4:55.91 time result.

“I wasn’t expecting that. I dropped like 17 seconds on my season’s best in the past two weeks,” Ryan told MileSplit after the race. “After last weekend, I didn’t think I could run low 5s again. I was just coming here trying to break 5 – just glad I finished it out.”

Ryan told the outlet she hoped to “have fun” at the event next week.

Ryan finished sixth in the 1,600-meter preliminary race and 21st in the girls 800-meter preliminaries.

The CIF has a “Gender Diverse Youth Sports Inclusivity Toolkit.” One section outlines “Gender Identity Participation.” The CIF has had “Gender Identity Participation” rules since 2013.