Trans Athlete Secures Final High School Championship Titles
High school track and field athlete AB Hernandez has concluded her scholastic athletic career by securing two additional California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) state championships. Hernandez successfully defended her titles in the high jump and the triple jump at the state championships. She also achieved a third-place finish in the long jump.
Throughout her high school tenure, Hernandez amassed a total of seven state medals in girls’ competitions. This includes six duplicated medals, a practice in line with CIF policy that provides the same medal to a cisgender girl who would have otherwise been displaced by Hernandez’s performance.
Shared Victories and Sportsmanship Highlight Championships
In the triple jump, Hernandez was named co-state champion alongside cisgender competitor Daniela Hughes. Hernandez recorded a distance of 42 feet, 8.75 inches, while Hughes jumped 41 feet, 1 inch. Images from the event show Hughes, who is committed to Cal, placing her arm around Hernandez as they posed for photographs atop the podium.
The high jump competition saw Hernandez clear a height of 5 feet, 10 inches, securing the state title over Lelani Laruelle. Both athletes stood together in first place, displaying their gold medals.
Regarding the competition, Laruelle commented, “I mean, it was fun, I’m neutral. I feel like there’s no other way to do it. She’s been a real good competitor.” This statement was reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
In the long jump, Hernandez shared third place with a best attempt of 20 feet, 2.25 inches.
Reflection on Competition and Future Outlook
Following the conclusion of her high school career, Hernandez told the Chronicle, “I’m not gonna celebrate too hard. I have grad night tomorrow.” She also spoke about her fellow competitors, noting the strong bonds within the Southern Section and extending that camaraderie to athletes from other sections.
Hernandez participated in girls’ athletics prior to being publicly identified as a transgender girl. Her outing occurred in 2025 following a series of Instagram posts by a physical education teacher.
Her participation in women’s sports has been a focal point in the national discussion regarding transgender inclusion in athletics, particularly given her transition from male to female. In the past year, former President Trump indicated a potential withholding of federal funding to California if the CIF permitted Hernandez to compete in the girls’ division.
With the NCAA having established policies regarding the participation of transgender athletes, Hernandez has not yet finalized her college plans. She expressed optimism about reaching a decision soon, stating to the Chronicle, “Hopefully (my decision) comes to a conclusion soon.”
