California’s championship track forces a trans athlete to share the podium with trans women
The division and field championships in California saw the trans athlete share first place in three events with female competitors, despite winning each event by huge margins.
Trans athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High School took first place in the long jump, high jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division 3 finals.
Trans athlete AB Hernandez shares first place on the podium with a female athlete at the CIF Southern Section finals in Moorpark, California on May 16, 2026. (Fox News Digital)
Then, during the speaker ceremonies, the announcers announced that each event has two partners, including Hernandez. This was based on a law passed last year.
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Hernandez was absent from the first medal ceremony in the long jump, as Moorpark High School’s Gianna Gonzalez stood alone in first place despite finishing a foot ahead of Hernandez. Hernandez was seen warming up for the next event.
Hernandez later shared the top podium spot in the high jump with Oak Park High School’s Gwynneth Mureika, despite winning first place by two inches.
Then, after winning the triple jump by nearly two feet over Shadow Hills’ Malia Strange, Hernandez stood alone on top, as Strange was absent.
Hernandez, the reigning Southern Section champion, and all other winners will advance to the CIF finals next Saturday to face some of the state’s top women’s skaters, with a chance to return to the state finals. The two-day finals begin on May 29 in Clovis, California.
AB Hernandez, a transgender student at Jurupa Valley High School, competes in the girls’ high jump at the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Divisional Championship Finals in Moorpark, Calif., on May 16, 2026. (Fox News Digital)
The CIF implemented a state semifinal screening program last May that gave any female athlete who finished behind a trans athlete one higher spot, resulting in the girls sharing podiums with Hernandez at the competition. The program also ensured that any female athlete who finished one place out of the state finals in events that included a trans competitor, would also compete for the title.
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A parent of a female athlete at Saturday’s meeting told Fox News Digital that the coach informed them that the same testing program will be used for the rest of the season, starting with Saturday’s finals.
Fox News Digital has reached out to CIF for comment.
The test plan was created after Hernandez advanced to the state finals, prompting President Donald Trump to speak out against California and Gov. Gavin Newsom on Truth Social post in the days leading up to the finals.
“California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow ‘MEN PLAYING WOMEN’S SPORTS.’ This week the changed Male athlete, in the main event, won ‘everything’ and now qualifies to compete in the ‘State Finals’ next weekend. As a man, he competed below average. As a woman, this changed person is almost invincible. THIS IS WRONG, AND DEGRADING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,” Trump wrote.
AB Hernandez, a transgender student at Jurupa Valley High School, jumps during practice before the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Divisional Championship Finals in Moorpark, Calif., on May 16, 2026. (Fox News Digital)
“Please be advised that major Federal Funding will be withheld, possibly forever, if the Executive Order regarding this issue is not followed. The Governor, himself, has said ‘NOT RIGHT.’ I will talk to him today and find out which way he wants to go??? In the meantime I am instructing the local authorities, if necessary, not to allow a trans person to compete in the State Finals. This is a completely ridiculous situation!!!”
Trump’s Justice Department then filed a Title IX lawsuit against the state’s educational institutions in July of last year, after Hernandez won two state titles and finished second in another.
Hernandez then competed against the Jurupa Valley girls volleyball team in the fall, as several teams lost to Jurupa Valley and two other players on the same team filed a Title IX lawsuit against the Jurupa Unified School District (JUSD) for including a trans player on the girls team and locker room.
The controversy surrounding Jurupa Valley’s athletics season was renewed last Saturday when “Save Girls Sports” protestors held a rally in the first section.
A source inside Newsom’s office gave a statement to Fox News Digital in the days leading up to that meeting, addressing the meeting.
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AB Hernandez, a transgender student at Jurupa Valley High School, arrives at the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Divisional Championship Finals in Moorpark, Calif., on May 16, 2026. (Fox News Digital)
“The Governor said discussions on this matter should be guided by fairness, dignity, and respect. He rejects the dishonest attempt by the right wing to frame this debate as an excuse to slander individual children. The Governor’s position is simple: stand with all children and stand up to bullies,” the statement reads.
“California is one of 22 states with laws requiring students to be allowed to participate in sex-segregated school sports that match their gender. California passed this law in 2013 (AB 1266) and it was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.”
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