AB Hernandez claims gold in high jump and triple jump under new CIF policy amid protests and political scrutiny
Fresno, Calif., June 1, 2025 — A transgender high school athlete’s championship performance in California has reignited a fierce national debate over gender identity and fairness in youth sports, after AB Hernandez claimed gold in both the girls high jump and triple jump during a heated state finals weekend.
Competing under a newly adopted policy by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), Hernandez cleared 5 feet, 7 inches (1.7 meters) in the high jump without a single failed attempt. She shared the top podium spot with Jillene Wetteland and Lelani Laruelle, who also reached the height but logged earlier faults. Hernandez later clinched first place in the triple jump, edging out Kira Gant Hatcher by just over half a meter.
Earlier in the day, Hernandez also placed second in the long jump behind winner Loren Webster, who leapt 21 feet (6.40 meters). Though short of previous state records set by Olympians Marion Jones (1993) and Tara Davis-Woodhall (2017), the competition remained intense under sweltering triple-digit temperatures near Fresno.
New policy allows more athletes to medal alongside trans competitors
This year’s CIF track and field championship marked a significant policy shift. In response to Hernandez’s success and growing scrutiny, the federation introduced a rule allowing an additional athlete to compete and medal in any event where a transgender athlete qualifies.
“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law,” the federation said in a statement.
The policy, which some hailed as a compromise and others criticized as discriminatory, is reportedly the first of its kind from a state high school sports governing body.
Protests and political pressure intensify
While the atmosphere at the stadium was largely calm, the event was not without controversy. Conservative activists and several parents staged demonstrations throughout the weekend. Some wore pink shirts and bracelets reading, “Save Girls’ Sports.” On Friday, an aircraft flew over the venue trailing a banner that read, “No Boys in Girls’ Sports!” The protest was credited to advocacy groups including the Independent Council on Women’s Sports and Women Are Real.
Former President Donald Trump also weighed in, threatening to pull federal funding from California unless it bars transgender female athletes from competing in girls’ categories. The U.S. Department of Justice has since opened an investigation into whether CIF and Hernandez’s school district violated federal sex discrimination laws.
Despite the furor, Hernandez has remained publicly composed. “I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,” she told Capital & Main in a recent interview.
Broader participation highlights athletic achievement
California remains one of the most active states in high school track and field participation, second only to Texas for the 2023–2024 school year, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. That deep talent pool was evident across multiple events during the two-day meet.
One of the weekend’s standout moments came from De La Salle High School’s Jaden Jefferson, who blazed through the boys’ 100-meter preliminaries in 10.01 seconds—0.19 seconds faster than last year’s meet record, though he clocked 10.27 in the final, narrowly missing an official record.
Athletes also shattered meet records in relay events, hurdles, and the boys’ pole vault, underscoring the championship’s competitive breadth beyond the political spotlight.
Ongoing debate around transgender inclusion
The CIF’s policy change, though framed as a way to increase fairness, has triggered its own legal and ethical questions. Critics argue the policy singles out transgender athletes while lacking clear definitions, such as how “biological female” is determined or verified. Advocates say such ambiguity risks new forms of discrimination, even as the state seeks to comply with existing anti-discrimination laws.
Sophia Lorey, outreach director for the conservative California Family Council, attended the meet and voiced skepticism. “At the end of the day,” she said, “it shows the girls that we know this is wrong and we’re still letting it happen to you.”
As litigation and public pressure mount, California’s track championship has become more than just a high school sports event — it’s now a national flashpoint in the ongoing debate over gender identity, fairness, and inclusion in youth athletics.
