Two male high school athletes who claim to be female were no-shows at the California State preliminary Track and Field Championship on Friday.

The two athletes — Athena Ryan, from Sonoma Academy, and Lorelei Barrett of Sherman Oaks Buckley — were set to compete in the girls’ 1,600-meter run after qualifying in sectionals.

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) seemed to take the side of Ryan and Barrett, taking issue with critics, whom CIF suggests “harassed” the trans athletes.

“The CIF is disappointed for two of our student-athletes and their families because due to the actions of others, they found it necessary to withdraw from the State Track and Field Championships out of concern for the student’s well being,” the governing body told The Los Angeles Times.

CIF added in its statement that the group “strongly denounces discriminatory or harassing behaviors that impact our student-athletes’ opportunities to participate in interscholastic competitions.”

CIF’s own guidelines permit male athletes who identify as female to compete in the female category. “All students should have the opportunity to participate in CIF activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on a student’s records,” the group’s rules state.

Ryan’s sectional win made headlines earlier this month when the girl who was edged out by Ryan expressed her dismay at the unfair situation.

Adeline Johnson, a senior at Branson High School, finished fourth in the girls’ 1,600-meter run at the North Coast Meet of Champions of California finals, The Daily Wire reported. Ryan finished second, and since only the top three finishers qualify for the California Interscholastic Federation State Track & Field Championships, Johnson was barred from moving on.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP

Parents, female athletes, and political figures have voiced outrage over such rules regarding trans-identifying athletes, arguing the biological advantages male athletes have over women. Riley Gaines, a leading collegiate swimmer, has been one of the most influential voices on the matter. She was edged out in NCAA competition last year by an athlete named Lia Thomas, a male swimmer who claims to be female. Thomas notably swam against males with mediocre results, before switching to female competitions, where the athlete has cleaned up.

“Both boys (Athena Ryan and Lorelei Barrett) who qualified for the girls high school track and field state championship in California didn’t not compete in prelims today,” Gaines posted to Twitter on Friday. “Did they realize they clearly possess an unfair advantage? Or is that too optimistic?”

Both boys (Athena Ryan and Lorelei Barrett) who qualified for the girls high school track and field state championship in California didn't not compete in prelims today.

Did they realize they clearly possess an unfair advantage? Or is that too optimistic? pic.twitter.com/7zNMeYcNqg

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 27, 2023

Related: ‘Pathetic Cheating Male’: Social Media Rips High School Boy Who Dominates Girls’ Track And Field Championship

A man who opened the emergency door while an Asiana Airlines flight was in the air said that he “wanted to get off quickly” because he was suffocating. 

Passengers on the flight were terrified as the man opened the door while the plane was coming in to land in Daegu, South Korea, on Friday, CNN reported. A video posted to social media showed air whipping into the cabin after the emergency door had been opened. 

Asiana Airlines A321 lands safely at Daegu Airport in South Korea after the emergency exit door was opened by a passenger on approach. 9 people taken to hospital with breathing difficulties. pic.twitter.com/Jzed4PMDvc

— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) May 26, 2023

The 33-year-old man was sitting in the emergency exit row and reportedly opened the door while the plane was still 700 feet in the air, according to an airline official. Officials confirmed with CNN that the plane landed safely despite the frightening situation. 

Upon landing, the man was arrested by local police and reportedly told authorities that he had been under stress after losing a job and felt suffocated. Police said the man told them he wanted to get off the plane as quickly as possible. The man was charged with violating aviation security law, and if convicted, he could face up to 10 years behind bars. 

The flight was carrying 194 passengers from the southern island of Jeju to Daegu. A dozen people suffered minor injuries and nine of them were sent to the hospital to be treated for breathing issues. Elementary and middle school track and field athletes were also on board, heading to a weekend competition. 

Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas told CNN that the man opening the emergency door mid-air was “very bizarre” because “[t]echnically, it’s not possible to open those doors in flight.”

“It seems implausible that the door could be opened in the first place and then against the airstream technically impossible, but somehow or another it has happened,” Thomas added.

Asiana Airlines said that the change in pressure as the aircraft descended could explain how the man could open the door. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP

“The airplane is automatically set to adjust the pressure of the cabin according to the altitude of the aircraft,” the airline said. “When the aircraft is high up in the air, it is impossible to open the door but when the altitude is low and close to landing, the door can be opened.”