Track Star AB Hernandez Claims Multiple Gold Medals
AB Hernandez, a transgender senior at Jurupa Valley High School, showcased her talent once again by winning gold in three events at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Track and Field Masters held in Ventura County this past Saturday.
Hernandez shined in the women’s jumping events, securing first place in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump categories.
According to CIF regulations aimed at addressing concerns over biological boys competing against girls, the female runner-up also received a gold medal, resulting in four athletes on the podium instead of the usual three.
Hernandez’s performance, particularly in terms of jump height and distance, far surpassed that of the other female competitors. She recorded a jump of 5 feet 8 inches in the high jump, while her closest competitor finished at 5 feet 6 inches. In the long jump, Hernandez achieved a mark of 20 feet, 4.75 inches, whereas the second-place athlete reached 19 feet, 1.75 inches. For the triple jump, Hernandez finished at 40 feet, 6.6 inches, with the runner-up at 39 feet 4.05 inches.
This Masters tournament, serving as a regional qualifier for the state championship later this month, allowed both Hernandez and the nearest female medal winner to advance to the finals.
Last year, during the state championship meet, Hernandez took home gold in both the high jump and triple jump, and placed second in the long jump. It’s a significant achievement, reflecting her skill and determination.
The current policy of granting medals to female athletes, despite being outperformed by biological males, was introduced by state athletic officials to ensure that female competitors receive recognition—even if they finish behind transgender athletes. This has sparked some debate, including criticism from Hernandez’s mother regarding the dual gold medal award for second place.
Notably, tennis legend Martina Navratilova and Olympic gold medalist Nancy Hogshead have publicly voiced concerns about the protection of female athletes in the wake of these policies, aiming to bring attention to what they believe are important issues regarding gender and sports.
Additionally, the Department of Justice has taken legal action against California officials for potential violations of Title IX, which prohibits sexual discrimination in education.
