Biological Male Athlete Wins Two Girls Jumping Events at California Meet

A biological male competing in girls track and field events won the long jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Masters meet on Saturday. AB Hernandez, a senior at Jurupa Valley High School, recorded a long jump of 19 feet, 3.5 inches and a triple jump of 40 feet, 4.75 inches at the meet in Moorpark.

Hernandez also placed tied for fourth in the high jump at 5 feet, 4 inches. All three marks met the qualifying standards for the state championship.

The results send Hernandez to the state final scheduled for May 29 and 30 in Clovis. The CIF has reinstated a rule from last spring that awards a gold medal and top podium position to the second-place female athlete when a transgender competitor finishes first.

Any athlete finishing in the top six of an event advances to the state meet. Hernandez previously qualified for the state championship as a sophomore in 2024.

Federal officials have questioned California about its policy on transgender participation in girls sports. Hernandez stated to Capital & Main, "There's nothing I can do about people's actions, just focus on my own." Critics have argued that the state's rules conflict with Title IX protections for female athletes.