Trans track athlete AB Hernandez competes in state championships as protests mount outside stadium

Transgender athlete AB Hernandez competed for a state title Saturday as angry parents and activists rallied outside the CIF State Track & Field Championships, demanding female events be reserved for biological girls.

Hernandez, a senior at Jurupa Valley High School, advanced to Saturday’s finals in the girls’ long jump, high jump and triple jump after posting the top qualifying mark in two events during Friday’s preliminary round.

The athlete has become one of the most controversial figures in high school sports, drawing national attention and fierce criticism from parents, competitors and women’s sports advocates who argue that biological males should not compete in girls’ divisions.

Outside Buchanan High School in Clovis, protesters wearing “Save Girl’s Sports” shirts lined the area surrounding the championship venue.

Several carried flags and signs reading, “No boys. No bias. Just fairness.”

Others accused officials of allowing opportunities to be taken from female athletes, displaying signs that said 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.