A moment of silent defiance
A 16-year-old high school athlete from California made headlines after stepping onto the top podium spot in quiet protest following her second-place finish behind a transgender competitor at a state-level track and field meet.
Reese Hogan, a student at Crean Lutheran High School, competed in the triple jump during the CIF Southern Section Finals on Saturday. Although she placed second, Hogan achieved a personal milestone, breaking both her own record and that of her school with a leap of 37 feet, 2 inches.
The top spot went to junior AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High School, a transgender female athlete who secured first place in both the girls’ long jump and triple jump.
An image that sparked a conversation
As the official podium ceremony concluded, Hernandez posed for photos alongside fellow competitors. But when the group stepped down, Hogan climbed onto the first-place platform herself, smiled confidently, and posed for a photo — a gesture seen by many as a statement on fairness in girls’ athletics.
The image quickly circulated on social media, drawing praise and controversy alike. Among the most vocal supporters was former NCAA swimmer and conservative advocate Riley Gaines, who called Hogan the “real” champion.
“When the boy got off the podium, she assumed her rightful spot as champion. The crowd erupts with applause,” Gaines wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“THIS is the way. Congrats to Reese Hogan, the REAL champ!!!”
In a separate post, Gaines labeled Hernandez a “fraud,” criticizing the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), state Democratic leadership, and Governor Gavin Newsom for permitting transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports.
Controversy beyond the competition
The finals came just a week after a quiet protest by several high school female athletes at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 Prelims at Yorba Linda High School on May 10. Hogan and others wore T-shirts reading “Protect Girls Sports” — a move met with resistance from event officials.
According to multiple accounts, officials instructed the girls to remove the shirts immediately while under direct supervision, citing CIF uniform policies. The student-athletes alleged they were not permitted to change privately or delay the removal until later.
“It wasn’t said but it was implied that if I didn’t take my shirt off then and there, then something could potentially happen to my spot,” Hogan told Fox News.
“Throughout the day it was kind of getting a little bit more stricter… getting a little bit more hostile with their voices… they never said anything about getting disqualified, but it was kind of implied.”
Witnesses also claimed that other athletes wearing non-school-issued shirts without political messaging were not asked to remove them, raising concerns about unequal enforcement of the rules.
CIF responds to uniform dispute
In a statement to Fox News, the CIF confirmed that athletes had been told to remove shirts that weren’t part of their official uniforms. “Per the CIF Southern Section Playoff Bulletin, all athletes must be dressed in proper, school-issued track uniforms,” the CIF said.
“The student-athletes were asked to comply with this while in the on-field event area, as they were wearing said shirts over their school-issued uniform.”
No similar shirts were reportedly worn at the CIF Southern Section Finals held last weekend.
The road ahead
Despite the controversy, AB Hernandez continues to advance in the postseason. With the state’s top marks in both the long jump and triple jump, Hernandez is now set to compete in the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet on May 24.
Hogan’s quiet act on the podium has now become part of a larger national conversation — one centered on fairness, gender identity, and the future of women’s sports in American high schools.
