A male-born high school jumper won two gold medals and one silver Saturday at the California state girls’ track-and-field championships, but first- and second-place awards were also given to female competitors who would have otherwise been displaced — a last-minute rule change that followed a defunding threat from President Trump.
A.B. Hernandez, a 16-year-old junior at Jurupa Valley High School, took first in the triple jump, tied for first in the high jump and won second in the long jump at the California Interscholastic Federation championships at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
During the awards ceremonies, the transgender student shared the tiered podium with the girl who would have taken the award if A.B. had not participated, a rule change made Wednesday that only applied to the three girls’ jumping events.
The federation announced the change a day after President Trump blasted the state for allowing the transgender student to compete in the girls’ division, calling it “not fair, and totally demeaning to women and girls” in all capital letters on Truth Social.
“Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to,” the president continued. “The Governor, himself, said it is ’UNFAIR.’ I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go??? In the meantime I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!”
Despite the president’s blast, the Jurupa Valley High School junior was permitted to compete in the championships. Under a 2013 California law, students must be permitted to compete in sports and other activities based on gender identity.
Hernandez won the triple jump, but a gold was also awarded to second-place finisher, Kira Grant Hatcher of St. Mary’s High School.
Hernandez also took gold in the high jump with a jump of 5 feet, 7 inches, tying with two other competitors: Lelani Laruelle of Monte Vista High School and Jillene Wetteland of Long Beach Polytechnic High School.
In the long jump, Hernandez had the second-best finish. The winner was Loren Webster of Wilson High School.
Hernandez shared the podium in the long jump with Brooke White, a senior at River City High School, who defended the transgender athlete.
“Sharing the podium was nothing but an honor,” White told the San Francisco Chronicle. “Although the publicity she’s been receiving has been pretty negative, I believe she deserves publicity because she’s a superstar, she’s a rock star, she’s representing who she is.”
Not everyone was sanguine about the results. Two girls refused to stand on the podium with A.B. and were escorted from the area, as shown in video posted by Jennifer Sey, founder and CEO of XX-XY Athletics.
“They were shunted to the sidelines,” the businesswoman posted on X. “Girls are being told they cannot stand up in their own defense.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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