CLOVIS, Calif. (AP) – California’s high school track-and-field state finals introduced a significant rule change that awards an additional medal in events where a transgender athlete places in the top three. This policy, implemented by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), is believed to be the first of its kind at a national level by a high school sports governing body. The change comes in light of the performance of AB Hernandez, a transgender student competing in the girls' high jump, long jump, and triple jump, who dominated the preliminaries.
The two-day championship commenced in sweltering heat at Clovis High School, located near Fresno. Despite the pressure and criticism surrounding Hernandez’s participation, the event unfolded relatively quietly. Critics, including parents and conservative activists, had previously voiced their opposition, insisting that Hernandez should not compete in girls' events. On the day of the meet, a small group of protesters gathered outside the stadium, some wearing “Save Girls’ Sports” T-shirts. During the high jump, Hernandez experienced hostility from the crowd, and a plane flew overhead for over an hour with a banner reading, “No Boys in Girls’ Sports!”
In the competitive environment, Hernandez excelled, finishing the triple jump with a mark nearly 41 feet (13 meters), significantly ahead of her closest competitor, Kira Gant Hatcher, a junior from the San Francisco Bay Area. She also led the long jump with a distance close to 20 feet (6 meters) and cleared 5 feet, 5 inches (1.7 meters) in the high jump to advance in all events. Hernandez chose not to speak to the press following the competitions.
The CIF’s rule change emerges amid an ongoing national debate regarding the participation of transgender girls in youth sports. The federation emphasized its commitment to include all student-athletes while observing California laws. The CIF stated that it aims to strike a balance between inclusivity and competitive fairness while navigating these contentious issues.
A recent AP-NORC poll indicated that approximately 70% of U.S. adults believe transgender female athletes should be barred from competing in girls' and women’s sports at various levels. Notably, this opinion was echoed by approximately 90% of Republicans and nearly half of Democrats. This backdrop amplified the scrutiny on the CIF after former President Donald Trump threatened to withdraw federal funding from the state unless it prohibited trans female athletes from competing on girls' teams. The CIF clarified that the decision to enact the rule change was made prior to Trump’s remarks.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice announced plans to investigate whether the CIF and the school district that includes Hernandez’s high school violated federal sex discrimination laws by permitting trans girls to participate in girls’ sports. Several California Republicans have also expressed their disapproval, with some attending a news conference criticizing the CIF's decision to allow Hernandez to compete.
Under California law, trans students are permitted to participate on sports teams that align with their gender identity. The CIF noted that the new rule could offer more opportunities for “biological female” athletes. However, experts have raised concerns that this policy might inherently discriminate against other transgender athletes by creating an additional medal slot exclusively for “biological females” without clear guidelines on how to define or verify this classification.
Hernandez previously articulated her determination not to let detractors affect her. In an earlier interview, she remarked, “I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person.”
California’s state championship distinguishes itself due to the vast number of competitors, making the qualification process more competitive than in other states. During the 2023-2024 school year, California had the second-largest participation in outdoor track and field nationwide, trailing only Texas. Historical records in the long jump were previously set by Olympians Marion Jones and Tara Davis-Woodhall.
In the boys' 100-meter dash heats, a highlight included Jaden Jefferson from De La Salle High School in Concord, who clocked in at an impressive time of 10.01 seconds, just slightly faster than the meet record set in 2023. However, this time will not be recognized as an official record unless replicated in the finals.
