Jaw-Dropping Moment at California Track Meet Sparks National Firestorm Over Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports
A striking incident at a California high school track meet has ignited a fierce debate that’s dividing the nation.
At the CIF Southern Section Finals, Reese Hogan of Crean Lutheran made a bold and controversial statement by stepping onto the first-place podium — despite finishing second in the triple jump event.
Why? Hogan was narrowly beaten by AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete who was assigned male at birth but now competes in the female division.
The Battle Over Women’s Sports
The clash over transgender athletes competing in women’s sports has become a deeply polarizing issue. Advocates emphasize inclusion, identity, and human rights, while critics warn that it threatens fairness and the integrity of female competition.
This controversy has escalated beyond social and cultural debates into the political arena. In February, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning transgender women from competing in female sports categories.
Trump declared, “The war on women’s sports is over,” promising that during the upcoming LA Olympics, “my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes.”
The move ignited a nationwide firestorm — with states divided on how to respond. Maine, for instance, has openly resisted bans on transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Now, this viral moment from California is fueling the debate all over again — shining a spotlight on the complex and contentious future of fairness, identity, and competition in athletics.
The Footage That Has Everyone Talking
At the CIF Southern Section Finals on May 18, Reese Hogan of Crean Lutheran High School made a striking and defiant statement.
Though officially placing second in the triple jump, Hogan returned to the podium after the ceremony had ended — and boldly stepped onto the empty top spot, which had been left vacant after the event’s winner, outspoken transgender athlete AB Hernandez, had left the stage.
The moment, caught on camera, instantly went viral — capturing a powerful gesture that’s reigniting a heated national conversation.
The scene, captured in viral footage, spread rapidly across social media — for many, it became a powerful symbol of frustration over what they perceive as an uneven playing field.
AB Hernandez, a biologically male athlete who now identifies as female, dominated the triple jump with a leap of 41 feet, 4 inches — more than four feet ahead of Reese Hogan.
Hernandez, representing Jurupa Valley High School in California, didn’t stop there. She also won the long jump and placed seventh in the high jump, earning a spot at the CIF Masters Meet scheduled for May 24.
The internet was quick to weigh in.
“This guy won the girls long jump and triple jump in a CA track meet over the weekend,” tweeted Jennifer Sey, founder of women’s sports advocacy group XX-XY.
“He won the triple jump by 8 feet. He’s really crushing it!”
“Wow, what an accomplishment. I’m sure it had nothing to do with being a biological male,” snarked Colin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics.
The backlash quickly grew, with many echoing the rising wave of criticism.
“Second place is the real champion!” one commenter wrote. “Good on her! This nonsense has to stop,” added another.
A blunt sign seen at the meet spelled out the frustration plainly:
“The weakest men compete with girls, the weakest minds celebrate it.”
Another user lamented:
“I’m sick of this. All the fight for women’s rights is being erased by the very people who once fought for them.”
A String of Controversies
This latest backlash is just the most recent in a series of controversies surrounding transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. Many point to previous high-profile cases — including one in North Carolina — that have left lasting consequences and fueled the ongoing national debate.
Back in 2022, 17-year-old volleyball player Payton McNabb suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a spike from a transgender player. Her mother later revealed the fear they faced:
“At the time, we weren’t allowed to speak up. We couldn’t say, ‘No, she’s not playing against a boy, it’s dangerous.’”
The McNabb case became a catalyst for North Carolina lawmakers, who passed legislation banning transgender athletes from competing on girls’ and women’s sports teams at the middle, high school, and college levels.
But not everyone supports such policies. More than 400 current and former Olympic athletes signed a letter urging the NCAA to resist similar bans, emphasizing a desire to be on the “right side of history” and affirming that sports should remain “for all.”
Meanwhile, Hernandez dismissed the backlash as “ridiculous.”
One critic voiced a common argument online: “The mere fact that men compete against women is absurd. Trans people should have their own league, and regular, normal people can have their traditional men’s and women’s sports.”
“Trans girls are girls”
On the other side, many came to Hernandez’s defense.
“She followed all the rules,” one supporter wrote. “If people don’t like it, the problem is with the rules, not with her.”
“Trans girls are girls,” another supporter declared. “Hernandez won fair and square.”
In a recent interview with Capital & Main, Hernandez opened up about the wave of backlash she’s faced during a rollercoaster track and field season — one filled with standout victories and moments where she didn’t even make the podium.
“I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,” Hernandez said. “All I thought was, ‘I don’t think you understand that this puts your idiotic claims to trash. She can’t be beat because she’s biologically male.’ Now you have no proof that I can’t be beat.”
According to Capital & Main — an award-winning nonprofit outlet covering major social, economic, and environmental issues in California — studies suggest transgender athletes have not consistently outperformed their cisgender peers. In fact, by several measures, transgender women have been shown to be at a disadvantage compared to cisgender women.
The debate shows no signs of fading. With more states pushing for bans and high-profile athletes speaking out on both sides, the fight over the future of women’s sports remains fiercely contested.
And thanks to Reese Hogan’s silent protest on the podium, the conversation just got a whole lot louder.