AB Hernandez Takes Two Titles in Girls' Events at California State Track Championship

AB Hernandez finished first in the girls' high jump and triple jump and third in the long jump at the California track and field state championship on Saturday night. Last year Hernandez won the triple jump and high jump state titles and finished second in the long jump.

The California Interscholastic Federation reimplemented its pilot program that awards podium recognition to every girl who finishes directly behind Hernandez.

At the girls' high jump ceremony, multiple athletes shared podium spots, leaving one side of the podium empty. Hernandez competed in the high jump and long jump events at the same time, running between the two venues. After placing third in the long jump, Hernandez won the remaining two events.

Images of Hernandez sharing podium spots circulated widely in the two weeks before the state meet. The CIF policy that produced those images was reinstated three weeks earlier at the CIF Southern Section finals. On Friday morning Hernandez appeared in a video with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer.

Later that day Republican candidate Steve Hilton headlined a rally outside the preliminary round that called for protection of girls' sports. On Saturday a press conference organized by Pride at the Pier and Rainbow Families Action was held outside the state championship. Nereyda Hernandez, the athlete's mother, and other LGBTQ activists spoke in support of Hernandez.

A group of Save Girls Sports activists arrived and engaged in a verbal confrontation with participants. Clovis Police Department vehicles were parked nearby and officers monitored the exchange. The confrontation ended without police intervention.

Hernandez's high school career concluded with the state meet. S. Department of Justice is suing California education agencies over policies that permit transgender athletes to compete in girls' events, and Jurupa Unified School District, Hernandez's home district, remains under investigation by the Department of Education.

California's gubernatorial primary is scheduled in the coming days, and the question of transgender participation in girls' sports has become a campaign issue as Steve Hilton seeks a place on the November ballot.