The relocation comes as Camas High School, one of the four schools entered in the meet, is receiving national attention due to the participation of a transgender girl on the girls cross-country team. The Class 4A Greater St. Helens League district cross-country championships will now be hosted at the former Underwriters Laboratories campus in Camas, instead of Lewisville Regional Park.

The Columbian reported that league athletic directors voted 9-0 to move the race. League president Bob Kickner did not immediately respond to The Seattle Times’ request for comment on Wednesday night.

“Based on the controversial climate surrounding the cross-country community, the Greater St. Helens League reevaluated our potential host courses in terms of safety, security, controllability, staffing and course conditions,” Kickner told The Columbian. “We feel this move will put all the student athletes in the best position to have a successful and competitive championship.”

The Camas School District owns the Underwriters Laboratories campus property, according to The Columbian, which allows district security officers to patrol the site. Five district security officers and two Camas police vehicles were at Tuesday’s meet, the report noted.

Runners at the new site are also more visible as there is less tree coverage than the other course, according to The Columbian. Tension has built within the Camas High School girls cross-country program in recent weeks as online posts criticized a transgender sophomore for participating in the girls category. Athletes and a parent from Skyview High School protested the athlete’s participation during a dual meet on Sept. 15.