California Track Meet Sparks National Debate After Athlete Protests Transgender Competitor
A dramatic moment at a high school track meet in California has gone viral—intensifying an already heated national debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports.
During the CIF Southern Section Finals on May 18, Crean Lutheran High School’s Reese Hogan made headlines when she stepped onto the top spot of the podium—despite placing second in the triple jump.
Her reason? The event’s winner was AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete who was born male and now competes as female.
A Quiet Protest Goes Viral
Though the official podium ceremony had concluded, Hogan returned to the stage and stood on the first-place platform, which had been left empty after Hernandez walked off. The symbolic gesture was captured on video and quickly circulated across social media, igniting fierce reactions.
Hernandez, a standout athlete from Jurupa Valley High School, won the triple jump with a mark of 41 feet, 4 inches—more than four feet ahead of Hogan. Hernandez also took first in the long jump and placed seventh in the high jump, securing a spot at the CIF Masters Meet on May 24.
When the boy got off the podium, she assumed her rightful spot as champion. The crowd erupts with applause.
THIS is the way.
Congrats to Reese Hogan, the REAL champ!!! https://t.co/KiEm2yV2YY pic.twitter.com/hqGdikES29
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 18, 2025
While some praised Hernandez’s performance, others saw Hogan’s silent protest as a statement about fairness in girls’ sports.
A Divided Nation
The controversy highlights the broader cultural and political divide surrounding transgender athletes in women’s competitions.
Critics argue that allowing transgender women to compete in female categories puts biological girls and women at a disadvantage, citing differences in strength and performance. Supporters, however, view it as an issue of inclusion and equal rights.
In February, former President Donald Trump reignited the national debate by signing an executive order banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports at the federal level.
This guy won the girls long jump and triple jump in a CA track meet over the weekend.
He won the triple jump by 8ft. He’s really crushing it!
It’s the giggly “feminine” affectations that make him a girl, right? 😡
— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) March 3, 2025
“The war on women’s sports is over,” Trump declared, promising that under his administration, biological men would not be allowed to compete against women at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
States like Maine, however, have resisted such bans, maintaining that transgender athletes should be allowed to participate in the gender category with which they identify.
Reactions From All Sides
As the video of Hogan’s protest spread online, opinions poured in from across the spectrum.
Jennifer Sey, founder of the advocacy group XX-XY, tweeted:
“This guy won the girls long jump and triple jump in a CA track meet over the weekend… He’s really crushing it!”
Colin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics, added sarcastically:
“Wow, what an accomplishment. I’m sure it had nothing to do with being a biological male.”
Other commenters called Hogan “the real champion” and praised her courage, while signs seen at the event read messages like:
“The weakest men compete with girls, the weakest minds celebrate it.”
But not everyone agreed. Supporters of Hernandez emphasized that she followed all the rules and earned her place fairly.
“Trans girls are girls,” one user wrote.
“If you don’t like the results, change the rules—not punish the athlete,” added another.
Past Incidents Fuel the Fire
This latest incident follows a growing number of high-profile controversies. One particularly troubling case occurred in North Carolina in 2022, when high school volleyball player Payton McNabb suffered a traumatic brain injury after being hit by a spike from a transgender opponent. That event helped push North Carolina lawmakers to pass legislation banning transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s teams at all education levels.
Still, not everyone supports such policies. Over 400 current and former Olympic athletes signed a letter urging the NCAA not to implement bans on transgender competitors, saying that sports should be inclusive and accessible to all.
Hernandez Responds to the Criticism
Despite the backlash, Hernandez remains unfazed. In a recent interview with Capital & Main, she addressed the criticism head-on.
“I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows who you really are,” she said, referring to critics.
“You claim I can’t be beat because I’m biologically male. But now I have wins and losses. What’s your argument now?”
Capital & Main, a nonprofit investigative news outlet, noted that studies have found mixed results on the performance of transgender athletes. In many cases, transgender women do not consistently outperform their cisgender peers—and sometimes even face disadvantages.
A Moment That Echoes Nationally
Whether you view Reese Hogan’s protest as a brave stand for fairness or an act of exclusion, one thing is clear: it has reignited a national debate that shows no sign of slowing down.
With more states introducing legislation, athletic organizations under pressure, and public opinion divided, the future of women’s sports remains deeply uncertain.
But thanks to one silent protest on a podium in California, the conversation is louder than ever.
