Trailblazing Victory: Trans Athlete Shines in Girls’ Jumping Events at Jurupa Valley High School

In a stunning display of athleticism, a transgender high school athlete from California swept the field at a prominent track and field competition over the weekend, securing three first-place titles in girls’ events. One of the standout moments was the high jump, where she outperformed her closest competitor by nearly a foot.

AB Hernandez, a senior at Jurupa Valley High School who was assigned male at birth, participated in the girls’ events during the Roosevelt Invitational. This participation comes amidst ongoing debates and threats from the Trump administration regarding potential cuts to federal funding for the state due to such inclusivity policies.

Hernandez dominated the high jump event, achieving a remarkable clearance of 5 feet 8 inches (1.72 meters), significantly outpacing the second-place competitor, who cleared 4 feet 10 inches (1.47 meters).

In addition to her high jump victory, Hernandez claimed first place in the long jump and triple jump events, with impressive marks of 17 feet 3¼ inches (5.26 meters) and 38 feet 4 inches (11.68 meters), respectively.

These accomplishments add to Hernandez’s impressive record, following a groundbreaking performance in February at the VS California Winter Championships. There, she secured the top spot in the girls’ triple jump with a leap of 39 feet 10 inches.

Currently, Hernandez holds the top national ranking in the girls’ triple jump for the 2026 outdoor season, boasting a personal best of 40 feet 7.5 inches.

Hernandez was thrust into the national spotlight in 2025 after President Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from California over her participation in girls’ events.

“California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum [sic], continues to ILLEGALLY allow ‘MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social in May, 2025.

The Trump administration also recently expanded a federal probe into California’s transgender sports policies. The US Department of Education has added the California Community College Athletic Association to an investigation that already includes the Jurupa Unified School District.

The investigation aims to determine if allowing transgender girls to compete in female categories violates Title IX protections for biological females.

Despite the pressure, California state law continues to protect the rights of trans students to participate in programs consistent with their gender identity.

“I’m just a normal kid going to school, playing sports,” Hernandez told reporters earlier this season. “They don’t take the time to get to know me… it’s just a little frustrating.”

As the outdoor season progresses toward the State Championships, Hernandez remains the athlete to beat in the jumping pits, even as her every mark is measured against a backdrop of federal investigations and national debate.

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