Yes, there’s more drag with loose-fitting clothing on a windy day, but Karen isn’t asking the young ladies to wear a wind sail or full capris during their meets. Please read the article before commenting. She’s asking that shorts AND spandex shorts be provided for those who want them. If the normal shorts are like gym/basketball shorts, then obviously the women wouldn’t pick them, but they still have the spandex shorts to fall back on. If they’re like the short XC shorts with the built in brief, then they’re a viable option in addition to the spandex shorts that will be provided, without having to be revealing. In the article Karen is literally quotes as saying “I believe that the line should be drawn at the butt cheek, and should go no further up, and they should have a choice of those spandex shorts or regular shorts.” They can still perform at a high level if they choose to wear the normal spandex shorts instead of the bunhuggers. I had a very successful career at my Division I program wearing normal spandex shorts and I believe someone posted a USA women’s relay pic of a few ladies (such as Allyson Felix) wearing them as well. If you want a HS example, Sydney McLaughlin is a Rio Olympian (who made it to the final might I add), IAAF Junior World Record holder, and two-time recipient of Gatorade Player of the Year and she wore spandex shorts and not bunhuggers.
Athlete comfort is definitely important, but if a girl is given a pair of spandex shorts and told to go compete and runs significantly slower it it’s not because she was SO physically uncomfortable in the spandex shorts. That is someone who is not a true competitor because she didn’t want it badly enough and her race-day confidence stemmed from “looking good” (to quote you) rather than from her training. Being an athlete has a lot more to do with your competitive nature than it has to do with the material resources one is given. There are plenty of people who run all around the world without even a pair of sneakers which is most definitely the most important piece of apparel in running, not shorts. (And before you say, “Well if shorts aren’t the most important, then why are people so worked up over them?” They are worked up over them because as a minor, there are no significant performance gains with wearing bunhuggers, however there are definitely awkward situations that can arise if people interpret a girl wearing bunhuggers as a signal that she is sexually mature, mentally and/or physically.) Being in a pair of spandex shorts vs. bunhuggers is hardly the disadvantage that should lead to poor performances.
I absolutely feel like women should wear bunhuggers if they want to, but should be given that option as adults and not as minors. I am also a woman and totally for women having say over their bodies, I’m just not for children wearing revealing clothing.