Jurupa Valley High School junior AB Hernandez emerged victorious at the CIF State Track & Field Championships in Clovis, winning both the girls’ triple jump and high jump, while securing a second-place finish in the long jump.
Despite her achievements, Hernandez faced criticism regarding her eligibility to compete as a transgender athlete.
In an uplifting moment on Saturday, she shared the podium with fellow long jump competitor Brooke White from River City High School, who praised Hernandez as a ‘rock star’ and a ‘superstar.’
White expressed her pride in sharing the medal ceremony with Hernandez, stating, ‘They gave me the medal that I deserved, they gave her the medal that she deserved. And sharing the podium was nothing but an honor.’
Hernandez dominated the triple jump, leaping an impressive 42 feet, 2 3/4 inches—over a foot ahead of her closest competitor, Kira Gant Hatcher from Saint Mary’s College High School, who achieved a best jump of 40 feet, 5 inches.
Following a rule change by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) just days before the championship, Hatcher was allowed to join Hernandez in the first-place spot during the awards presentation.
This recent legislation facilitates the participation of transgender students in sports teams that align with their gender identity, according to California law.
However, the CIF’s new rules have stirred controversy among various advocacy groups and experts. One expert argued that the updated regulations could be seen as discriminatory, offering advantages to ‘biological female’ athletes while not extending similar provisions for other trans athletes.
The CIF has not clarified the criteria for defining ‘biological female’ or outlined the method of verification for athletes seeking to compete within that category.
Additionally, both Saint Mary’s College High School and Jurupa Valley High School contributed equal points to the team scoring, as Hernandez’s impressive performance and Hatcher’s participation added to their respective tallies.
In the high jump, Hernandez showcased her skills alongside three other competitors, each clearing a height of 5 feet, 7 inches.
She was declared the winner due to her successful first attempt, while Jillene Wetteland from Long Beach Poly and Lelani Laruelle from Monta Vista in Cupertino cleared the height on their second efforts.
In the long jump category, Hernandez secured second place with a jump of 20 feet, 8 3/4 inches, trailing Long Beach Wilson senior Loren Webster, who jumped 21 feet, 1/4 inch.
Protests erupted outside the championship venue where demonstrators held signs advocating against the inclusion of transgender girls in female sports.
Messages on their placards included phrases like ‘No Child Is Born in the Wrong Body,’ ‘Trans Girls Are Boys: CIF Do Better,’ and ‘She Trains to Win. He Takes the Trophy?’
In response to her daughter’s accomplishments, Nereyda Hernandez expressed immense pride, stating, ‘As your mother, I cannot fully express how PROUD I am of you.’
She commended her daughter for persevering through criticism over the past months, highlighting her strength and focus during training.
‘You stayed focused. You kept training, you kept showing up, and now you’re bringing THE GOLD HOME!!!’ Hernandez’s mother said in a statement.
In a significant development, the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation to assess whether California’s state law allowing transgender athletes to participate in female sports violates the federal Title IX civil rights law.
The investigation targets Assembly Bill 1266, introduced in 2013 to safeguard the rights of transgender students within educational and athletic contexts.
Additionally, a CIF bylaw mandating participation of male athletes in girls’ interscholastic sports is under scrutiny for its potential impact on equal opportunities for female athletes.
The DOJ’s letter referencing Hernandez, albeit unnamed, highlighted concerns about fairness and equality in women’s sports.
‘It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies,’ remarked Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights.
The CIF’s announcement of new entry rules for this state meet aimed to increase participation for biological females who might otherwise be limited by the performance of trans athletes.
This investigation by the DOJ followed shortly after a controversial tweet from former President Donald Trump, who threatened to withhold federal funding from California unless the state enforced restrictions on transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
The ongoing debate surrounding trans athlete participation emphasizes broader issues of equity and rights within high school athletics, continuing to unfold as state and national policies evolve.
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