Rita Cummings

Gorham High School, Maine

Rita Cummings is a senior track and field runner at Gorham High School in Maine, where she competes in the 800-meter, 1-mile, 2-mile, and 5K cross country races. Last fall, Rita made headlines when she withdrew from the Festival of Champions invitational meet after learning that a male athlete, Soren Stark-Chessa, was competing in the women’s category. Her decision to step back, though unsupported by her coach, marked the only race she has ever withdrawn from in her athletic career.

Rita has become a strong advocate for protecting the integrity of women’s sports. She stands firm in her belief that fairness in competition is paramount and has vowed not to compete in any women’s event where a male athlete is entered, including in her future collegiate career. Rita has received athletic scholarship offers from multiple universities and plans to continue running in college while advocating for women’s rights in sports.

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