High school girl claims first-place podium spot despite losing to trans athlete

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A shocking occurrence at a California high school track competition has sparked controversy and reignited heated debate across the country. During the CIF Southern Section Finals, Crean Lutheran’s Reese Hogan made a big statement—literally—by climbing onto the first-place podium despite finishing second in the triple jump. What’s the reason? AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete who was born a male and now competes as a female, defeated Hogan.

War on Women’s Sports?

The controversy about transgender athletes in women’s sports is dividing the country in two. Supporters argue that it is about inclusiveness, identity, and basic human rights, but detractors warn that it directly undermines the fairness and integrity of women’s competition. Now, the issue is not only cultural but also political. Former President Donald Trump took a bold position in February, signing an executive order prohibiting transgender women from competing in female sports.

Trump claimed, “The war on women’s sports is over,” and promised that during the forthcoming Los Angeles Olympics, “my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes.” The move, naturally, sparked a nationwide controversy—and not every state is following suit. Maine, for example, has publicly refused to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.

And now, a viral moment from California has revived the heated argument.

The footage

On May 18, at the CIF Southern Section Finals, Reese Hogan of Crean Lutheran High School took a defiant stand. Despite finishing second in the triple jump, Hogan returned to the podium after the official ceremony and stood tall on the top spot, which had been left unoccupied when the event’s winner, vocal transgender athlete AB Hernandez, fled.

The scene, captured on viral video, soon spread online. For many, it represented discontent with what they saw as an unequal playing field. Hernandez, a biologically male athlete who identifies as female, won the tournament with a jump of 41 feet and 4 inches, more than four feet ahead of Hogan.

Hernandez, from Jurupa Valley High School in California, also won the long jump and finished eighth in the high jump, qualifying for the CIF Masters Meet on May 24.

The Internet was quick to respond.

“This guy won the girls’ long jump and triple jump in a California track meet over the weekend,” wrote Jennifer Sey, founder of the women’s sports advocacy group XX-XY.

“He won the triple jump by eight feet.” “He’s crushing it!”

Wow, what an accomplishment. Colin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics, snarked, “I’m sure it had nothing to do with being a biological male.” Others chimed in, reflecting the increasing chorus of condemnation.

“Second place is the real champion!” one user wrote. “Good for her! This nonsense has to stop,” another said.

A stark sign found at the meet read:

“The weakest men compete with girls; the weakest minds celebrate it.”

Another user joined in:

“I am weary of this.” The same people who fought for women’s rights in the first place have now abandoned the cause.”

A string of scandals

The backlash is the latest in a series of problems involving transgender athletes competing in women’s events. Many cite past high-profile occurrences, including one in North Carolina that had long-term ramifications.

In 2022, a transgender player’s spike struck 17-year-old volleyball player Payton McNabb, causing a catastrophic brain injury. Her mother later stated, “At the time, we were unable to voice our concerns.” We couldn’t say, “No, she’s not playing against a boy; that’s unsafe.”

The McNabb case prompted North Carolina lawmakers to establish laws prohibiting transgender athletes from playing on girls’ and women’s sports teams at the grade, high school, and college levels.

However, not everyone supports such a policy. A petition, signed by over 400 current and former Olympic athletes, urged the NCAA to refrain from imposing similar bans, citing their desire to be on the “right side of history” and their belief that sports should be accessible to all.

Meanwhile, Hernandez dismissed the uproar as “ridiculous.”

“The mere fact that men compete against women is absurd,” one critic wrote online. “Trans people should have their league, and regular, normal people can have their traditional men’s and women’s sports.”

“Trans girls are girls.”
However, some defended the young athlete’s right to compete.

“She followed all the rules,” one person commented. “If people don’t like it, the problem is with the rules, not with her.”

“Trans girls are girls,” another said. “Hernandez emerged victorious.”

In a recent interview with Capital & Main, Hernandez discussed the tsunami of anger she’s received during a rollercoaster track and field season that has included both notable finishes and occasions when she didn’t even make the podium.

“I am still a child, you are an adult, and acting like a child reflects who you are as a person. All I could think was, ‘I don’t think you appreciate how this undermines your ridiculous assertions. Given her biological male identity, defeating her is impossible. Now you have no proof that I am unbeatable.”

According to Capital & Main, an award-winning organization covering key economic, environmental, and social issues in California, research shows that transgender athletes do not routinely outperform their cisgender counterparts. In fact, multiple indicators demonstrate that transgender women are at a disadvantage relative to cisgender women.

The problem shows no signs of going away anytime soon. With additional governments pressing for bans and high-profile athletes taking sides, the debate over the future of women’s sports is far from done.

And now, because of Reese Hogan’s silent podium protest, it’s even louder than before.

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