California championship track meet forces trans athlete to share top podium spot with biological female
The track and field championship meet in California saw a transgender athlete share first place with female competitors in three events, despite winning each event by large margins.
Transgender athlete AB Hernandez from Jurupa Valley High School took first place in the long jump, high jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Division Division 3 finals.
Trans athlete AB Hernandez shares first place on the podium with a female athlete at the CIF Southern Division final on May 16, 2026 in Moorpark, California. (Fox News Digital)
Later, during the podium ceremonies, the announcers announced that each event had two co-champions, including Hernandez. This was based on a rule that went into effect last year.
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Hernandez was not present at the first medal ceremony in the long jump, as Moorpark High School’s Gianna Gonzalez stood alone on the first podium despite finishing one step behind Hernandez. Hernandez appeared to be warming up for the next event.
Hernandez then shared the podium in the high jump with Gwynneth Mureika of Oak Park High School, although she won by two inches.
Then, after winning the triple jump by nearly seven feet over Shadow Hills’ Malia Strange, Hernandez was left alone at the top spot due to Strange’s absence.
Now a Southern Division champion again, Hernandez, along with all the other winners, will advance to the CIF prelims next Saturday to face the state’s top female jumpers and have a chance to return to the state finals. The two-day state finals will begin May 29 in Clovis, California.
AB Hernandez, a transgender student at Jurupa Valley High School, competes in the girls high jump during the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Division Section Championship Finals on May 16, 2026 in Moorpark, California. (Fox News Digital)
Last May, the CIF enacted a pilot program for the state finals that awarded a top spot to any female athlete who finished behind a transgender athlete; This led to the girls sharing the podium places with Hernandez for the championship. The program also enabled all female athletes who were one place behind to compete for the championship by gaining the right to participate in the state finals in events that included transgender competitors.
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The parent of a female athlete at Saturday’s meet told Fox News Digital that a coach informed them that the same pilot program would be implemented for the remainder of the post-state season, starting with Saturday’s divisional finale.
Fox News Digital has reached out to CIF for a response.
The pilot program was implemented after Hernandez advanced to the state final, which led to President Donald Trump speaking out against California and Gov. Gavin Newsom in a post on Truth Social in the days leading up to the final.
“California, led by Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow ‘MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS’. A Male athlete who transitioned this week won ‘everything’ at a major event and is now eligible to compete in the ‘State Finals’ next weekend. As a male he was a below average competitor. As a female this transitioned individual is virtually unbeatable. THIS IS NOT FAIR AND WOMEN AND GIRLS “IT IS COMPLETELY DEGRADABLE FOR YOU,” Trump wrote.
AB Hernandez, a transgender student at Jurupa Valley High School, jumps during practice ahead of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Division Regional Championship Finals on May 16, 2026 in Moorpark, California. (Fox News Digital)
“Please be advised that if the Executive Order on this issue is not followed, large-scale Federal Funding will be withheld, perhaps permanently. The Governor himself has said this is ‘UNJUSTICE’. I will be talking to him today to find out which direction he wants to go??? By the way, if necessary, I am ordering the local authorities not to allow the transitioner to compete in the State Finals. This is completely ridiculous!!!”
Trump’s Justice Department filed a Title IX lawsuit against the state’s educational institutions in July of last year after Hernandez won two state championships and finished second in another.
Hernandez later competed for Jurupa Valley’s 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 Jurupa Unified School District (JUSD) for putting the transgender athlete on the girls team and in the locker room.
Controversy over Jurupa Valley’s track and field season reignited last Saturday when “Save Girls Sports” protesters held a rally during the regional qualifying round.
A source from Newsom’s office released a statement about the rally to Fox News Digital in the days before the meeting.
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AB Hernandez, a transgender student at Jurupa Valley High School, arrives at the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Division Section Championship Finals on May 16, 2026 in Moorpark, California. (Fox News Digital)
“The governor said discussions on this issue should be guided by justice, dignity and respect. He rejects the cynical attempt by the right wing to weaponize this debate as an excuse to denigrate individual children. The governor’s position is simple: stand up for all children and stand up to bullies,” the statement said.
“California is one of 22 states with laws requiring students to be allowed to participate in sex-segregated school sports consistent with their gender identity. California passed this law in 2013 (AB 1266) and was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.”
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