Podium Protest at California Track Meet Sparks National Debate
A moment at a high school track meet in California is drawing widespread attention and fueling an ongoing national conversation.
During the CIF Southern Section Finals, Crean Lutheran’s Reese Hogan made headlines after stepping onto the first-place podium, despite officially finishing second in the girls’ triple jump.
The top spot went to AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete who was assigned male at birth but now competes in the girls’ division. Hernandez left the podium before the ceremony ended, and Hogan stepped up in her place.
Ongoing Controversy Over Transgender Athletes
The incident has reignited the broader debate over the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports. Supporters argue for inclusion and equal rights, while critics raise concerns about fairness and competitive balance.
The issue has also become a political flashpoint. In February, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender women from competing in female sports divisions. “The war on women’s sports is over,” Trump declared, adding that his administration would not allow transgender women to compete against biological females at the upcoming Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Reactions have been divided across the country. Some states have adopted similar bans, while others, like Maine, continue to allow transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity.
Viral Moment Draws Attention
The footage of Hogan standing on the top podium has gone viral, with many interpreting it as a quiet protest. The podium had been left empty after Hernandez stepped down, and Hogan returned after the official ceremony to take the spot.
The moment has sparked renewed discussions nationwide about how schools, sports organizations, and lawmakers should navigate the complex intersection of gender identity and athletic competition.
The moment, captured on video and widely shared online, quickly drew public attention. For many viewers, it became a symbol of growing frustration over what they perceive as an uneven playing field in women’s sports.
AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete from Jurupa Valley High School who was assigned male at birth and now identifies as female, won the triple jump with an impressive distance of 41 feet, 4 inches—more than four feet ahead of second-place finisher Reese Hogan.
Hernandez also claimed victory in the long jump and placed seventh in the high jump, earning a spot at the CIF Masters Meet scheduled for May 24.
Reactions across social media were swift and passionate.
“This guy won the girls’ long jump and triple jump in a CA track meet over the weekend,” wrote Jennifer Sey, founder of women’s sports advocacy group XX-XY. “He won the triple jump by 8 feet. He’s really crushing it!”
Podium Protest Ignites Heated Reactions and Renews National Debate
Viral footage of Reese Hogan standing on the first-place podium—despite finishing second in a California high school track meet—has become a lightning rod for debate. For many online, the moment symbolized mounting frustration over what some see as unfair advantages in women’s sports.
AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete from Jurupa Valley High School who identifies as female, won the girls’ triple jump with a leap of 41 feet, 4 inches—over four feet farther than Hogan. Hernandez also took first place in the long jump and placed seventh in the high jump, qualifying for the CIF Masters Meet scheduled for May 24.
The response online was swift and divided.
“Wow, what an accomplishment. I’m sure it had nothing to do with being a biological male,” commented Colin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics. Others echoed the sentiment, posting messages such as “Second place is the real champion!” and “Good on her! This nonsense has to stop.” One blunt sign spotted at the event read: “The weakest men compete with girls, the weakest minds celebrate it.”
Some commenters expressed broader frustration, with one writing, “All the fight for women’s rights is now gone—taken away by the same people who once fought for them.”
Part of a Broader Pattern
The backlash against Hernandez is the latest in a series of controversies involving transgender athletes competing in women’s events. One of the most high-profile incidents occurred in 2022 when North Carolina volleyball player Payton McNabb suffered a traumatic brain injury after being hit by a spike from a transgender player. McNabb’s mother later said, “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.’”
That incident helped push North Carolina lawmakers to pass legislation banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels.
However, not everyone supports such bans. More than 400 current and former Olympic athletes signed a letter urging the NCAA not to implement similar restrictions. The letter emphasized a belief in inclusion, arguing that sports should be accessible to all and that history would remember where people stood on the issue.
Hernandez Responds to Criticism
As controversy swirled, Hernandez dismissed the backlash as “ridiculous.” Critics online continued to express outrage, with one stating, “The mere fact that men compete against women is absurd. Trans people should have their own league.”
Still, many defended Hernandez.
“She followed all the rules,” one person wrote. “If people don’t like it, the problem is with the rules, not with her.” Others added messages like “Trans girls are girls” and “Hernandez won fair and square.”
In a recent interview with Capital & Main, Hernandez reflected on the emotional toll of the season, which included both standout performances and times when she didn’t place.
“I’m still a child. You’re an adult. And for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,” she said in response to critics. “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 publication focused on major California issues, research shows that transgender athletes do not consistently outperform their cisgender peers. In some cases, transgender women may even face disadvantages in competition.
A Debate Far From Over
With more states pursuing bans and public figures on both sides weighing in, the conversation around transgender inclusion in women’s sports shows no sign of slowing. And thanks to one silent protest on a California podium, the conversation has only grown louder.
