Transgender AB Hernandez wins state track medal

CLOVIS —  Jurupa Valley senior AB Hernandez positioned third in the CIF state championship long soar on Saturday, medaling in the event for the second consecutive 12 months.

Hernandez, who is transgender, has confronted harassment and ire from anti-trans protesters and conservative pundits during the past two years. She jumped 20 toes, 2 1/4 inches on Saturday, behind first-place finisher Ellie McCuskey-Hay of St. Ignatius (20-3½) and Gianna Gonzalez of Moorpark (20-3½).

Under CIF coverage, transgender athletes who place at the state championships obtain medals but don’t displace cisgender ladies in the ultimate standings. The federation announced last 12 months that the coverage would apply particularly to the long soar, triple soar and high soar — the three occasions Hernandez competed in — and the rule remained in impact for her three occasions this weekend.

Hernandez shared her third-place podium with St. Mary’s Berkeley jumper Corrine Jones, who reached 19-9 ½.

Hernandez secured her place in Saturday’s finals on her opening long soar attempt Friday, posting a mark strong enough to maintain the top qualifying place. She handed on her remaining two makes an attempt after safely locking up development.

The ambiance surrounding the state championships was notably calmer than a 12 months in the past, when demonstrations over Hernandez’s participation drew national consideration. On Friday, the most seen protest exercise got here before the meet, when Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton held a news convention outdoors Veterans Memorial Stadium, noting that the first election was just 4 days away.

Standing before indicators studying “Hey, CIF: Girls’ Sports Girls Only” on Friday, Hilton criticized the California Interscholastic Federation’s insurance policies governing transgender athletes.

On Saturday, the Rainbow Families Action group hosted a news convention outdoors in assist of Hernandez. Counter-protesters confirmed up toward the end and shouted toward the Hernandez supporters and the 2 sides exchanged some phrases before dispersing.

Inside the stadium, however, the main target largely remained on the competitors. Spectators cheered as Hernandez started her long-jump method, and some followers wore bracelets bearing the message “We Stand With AB.”

Event organizers prohibited indicators inside the venue. Unlike last 12 months, when advocacy teams on both sides staged more seen demonstrations, the off-track theatrics had been largely absent.

Meanwhile, Democrat Tom Steyer launched a video on X on Friday that includes a earlier dialog with Hernandez, in which he expressed assist for her participation in high college athletics.

The 17-year-old arrived in Clovis after sweeping all three of her occasions at the Southern Section championships.

Entering the state meet, Hernandez ranked among the nation’s top 10 performers in all three occasions. She shared California’s best high soar mark, was tied for second in the long soar and ranked second in the triple soar. She will compete in the high soar and triple soar later Saturday.