Transgender college runner Sadie Schreiner made headlines over the weekend after dominating the women’s events at the Liberty League championship meet. Schreiner, a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology, took home first place in the 400 meter and 200 meter races with impressive times of 55.07 and 24.14, respectively.
Despite her victories, Schreiner’s times would have placed her last in the men’s races at the meet. However, they were school records in the women’s category and even set a new Liberty League conference record in the 200-meter event.
In addition to her individual wins, Schreiner also anchored the 4×400 relay team to victory, running the fastest anchor leg of the race with a time of 54.91 seconds. This performance helped her team secure first place by nearly three seconds.
Schreiner, who was born male and previously competed as Camden at Hillsborough High School in New Jersey, has been vocal about her experience as a transgender athlete. She recently shared on Instagram that she does not believe she has an “automatic advantage” as a biological male and emphasized the importance of including trans athletes in the conversation about sports inclusion.
The debate around transgender athletes in sports has been a hot topic recently, with six states suing the Department of Education over Title IX protections for transgender athletes. Despite the controversy, Schreiner’s success on the track has sparked important conversations about inclusivity and fairness in sports.
As Schreiner continues to break records and challenge stereotypes, her story serves as a reminder of the power of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity.
