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≡ CIF STATE MEET ≡
The California Interscholastic Federation’s massive Southern Section qualifies athletes to the State Track & Field Meet through its Masters Meet, held last weekend at Moorpark High School.
Among the performances was a double win for Jurupa Valley High School junior AB Hernandez, who took the women’s long jump at 19-3 1/2 and the triple jump at 40-4 3/4, after placing third in State in the women’s triple jump in 2024.
Hernandez, 16, also tied for fourth in the women’s high jump, at 5-4, also qualifying for State in that event.
She is a trans athlete and is now the center of controversy, with the State Meet coming up at Buchanan High School in on Friday and Saturday.
Hernandez has been competing in the women’s division for three seasons, but now is between California State laws allowing her to compete in women’s events and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14201 of 5 February, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”
On Tuesday, Trump posted a blistering message on Truth Social, writing in part:
“As a Male, he was a less than average competitor. As a Female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable. THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS. 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. [California Governor Gavin Newsom], 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!!!”
The CIF, which has been monitoring the situation, posted its own statement, announcing a change in the State Meet entry process:
“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code. With this in mind, the CIF will be implementing a pilot entry process for the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships.
“Under this pilot entry process, 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 believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.”
Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gordon said in a statement:
“CIF’s proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness. The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.”
The Jurupa Valley School District noted that “both state law and CIF policy currently require that students be permitted to participate in athletic teams and competitions consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records.”
So Hernandez is in three events, athletes have been added and the controversy will continue this weekend. Trump’s social post, however, creates a much more impactful situation concerning Federal funding for California that goes well beyond the CIF State Meet in Clovis.
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