CIF changes ruling at state championships over transgender athlete criticism

The CIF State Track and Field Championships will capture a national crowd this weekend with the meet being thrust into the spotlight amid the ongoing debate of whether transgender athletes should compete in girls and women's sports. On May 27, President Donald Trump posted his criticism of the policy to allow transgender girls to compete in women's sports on X and threatened to withhold federal funding from the state if the California Interscholastic Foundation does not comply with his executive order. The CIF announced in February its bylaws would remain the same despite Trump's order. Trump's criticism stems from junior AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High School in Riverside County, who will compete in the long jump, high jump and triple jump at the state championships in Clovis. Hernandez, who transitioned from male to female, won Southern Section championships in the long jump and triple jump and has a strong chance to medal in all three events at the state meet. Hernandez fell under criticism from opposing parents and coaches and has had family members confronted by angry parents who feel their daughters did not qualify for state due to Hernandez's participation. As a result, the CIF has modified its standards for qualifying for state. In a press release, the CIF stated, "Any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section's automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships." The CIF added it believes this ruling achieves the participation opportunities they seek to provide for student-athletes. Furthermore, the CIF stated, "If necessary, in the high jump, triple jump and long jump events at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships, a biological female student-athlete who would have earned a specific placement on the podium will also be awarded the medal for that place and the results will be reflected in the recording of the event." Medals are issued to the top nine placers at the state championships. If Hernandez medals in an event, the CIF will issue a duplicate medal for the next-highest placer. Hernandez competed in the state championships in the long jump and triple jump in 2023, placing third in the long jump. Multiple Placer County athletes are set to compete against Hernandez this weekend. West Park's Katie Hannah and Oakmont's Devyn Chambers qualified in the long jump at 18 feet and 18 feet, 6.25 inches. Chambers will also compete against Hernandez in the triple jump alongside Whitney's Alishia Elie. Hernandez had the second-best triple jump and fifth-best long jump among the 32 state qualifiers. California state law "ensures equal rights and opportunities for every student" and prohibits the discrimination or exclusion of an athlete based on gender identity, expression or sexual orientation.