CHARELSTON, W.Va. (WVVA) - With pending lawsuits and mass cries of “unfairness” a trans athlete still competed in the West Virginia 2025 State Track and Field Meet.

Becky Pepper-Jackson, identified as B.P.J. in several court filings, is a transgender girl who qualified to compete in Class AAA girls shotput and discuss.

The announcement of Pepper-Jackson’s participation in the girls’ class as opposed to the boys’ sparked outrage across the state, with many claiming that she would too easily over power her competitors due to her gender assigned at birth.

Governor Patrick Morrisey was especially bothered by the transgender athlete.

“I am hearing that high school track coaches in West Virginia are threatening to force girl track and field athletes to compete against a boy or face suspension – which could remove their opportunity to participate in the state championships. This cannot stand." said Morrisey .

In 2021, the ‘Save Women’s Sports Act’ was adopted into state law. The bill banned transgender athletes from competing in female sports in West Virginia schools.

However, in 2023, Pepper-Jackson was granted an injunction to play on her high school track and field team after filing a lawsuit challenging the ban. She was able to compete in the statewide competition this past weekend under the same injunction.

Ultimately the athlete placed third in discus and eighth in shot put in this year’s state tournament. Overall, eight girls who were assigned female at birth performed stronger in the weekend’s competitions.

Though Pepper-Jackson did not take the top spot in either category the governor is asking for her scores to be separate from her competitors.

“A boy is competing in girls’ sports at the high school state track meet in West Virginia. It’s wrong and unfair. I’m again urging officials to keep separate scores so that the true winners can be awarded once we win in court,” said Morrisey on Facebook.

The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission has not issued a statement in response, but its website says “the Commission is designed to provide means for the unbiased and amicable settlement of disputes regarding activities.”