On Saturday, transgender athlete AB Hernandez took part in the CIF State Track & Field Championships, competing for a state title amid protests from parents and activists advocating that female sporting events be restricted to individuals assigned female at birth.
Hernandez, a senior at Jurupa Valley High School, reached the finals in the girls’ long jump, high jump, and triple jump. The athlete had already made a strong impression in Friday’s preliminary rounds by posting the top qualifying scores in two of these events.
Hernandez’s participation has sparked significant debate in the realm of high school sports, attracting national attention. Critics, including parents, fellow athletes, and advocates for women’s sports, argue that those assigned male at birth should not compete in female divisions.
At Buchanan High School in Clovis, protesters gathered outside the championship venue, wearing “Save Girl’s Sports” shirts to express their opposition.
Individuals in the crowd held flags and signs with messages such as, “No boys. No bias. Just fairness.”
Some protesters accused officials of depriving female athletes of opportunities, with signs claiming that top finishes had been “stolen from our daughters.”
Additional signs urged the CIF to “Save Girl’s Sports.”
Inside the stadium, Hernandez finished third in the girls’ long jump with a mark of 20 feet, 2 1/4 inches.
First place was shared by Ellie McCuskey-Hay of St. Ignatius High School and Gianna Gonzalez of Moorpark High School, who each jumped 20 feet, 3 1/2 inches.
Despite finishing in fourth, Corinne Jones from St. Mary’s High School joined Hernandez on the podium to share third place.
The unusual arrangement stems from a CIF policy adopted ahead of the 2025 state championships and continued into 2026 under mounting political and legal pressure.
Under the rule, if a transgender athlete places in a postseason track event, the highest-finishing cisgender female competitor is elevated into the same placement.
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The state championship followed weeks of controversy surrounding Hernandez’s success in girls’ competition.
Just two weeks ago, Hernandez swept the girls’ long jump, high jump and triple jump at the CIF Southern Section championship final.
The victories triggered backlash from parents, athletes and activists and led officials to award duplicate gold medals to the female runners-up.
The tension was visible during the medal ceremony.
Some competitors appeared to avoid celebrating alongside Hernandez, with one athlete reportedly choosing not to stand on the podium and others keeping their distance.
The controversy intensified again one week later when Hernandez repeated the feat at the CIF Southern Section Track and Field Masters Meet in Ventura County, taking first place in all three jumping events.
Officials once again awarded gold medals to the second-place female finishers, and Hernandez shared the top spot on the podium with each runner-up.
