A powerful and controversial moment at a California high school track meet has reignited national debate about fairness, identity, and the future of women’s sports in America.
During the CIF Southern Section Finals, a bold act by Crean Lutheran’s Reese Hogan drew intense attention. Hogan had placed second in the triple jump, but after the official medal ceremony ended, she climbed onto the first-place podium—a spot left empty after the winner, AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete, stepped away. Hogan’s silent stand was anything but quiet. It immediately went viral, igniting a wave of discussion across the internet and news platforms. Her action wasn’t just about where she stood on the podium—it was a symbol of a deeper frustration felt by many about what they see as an uneven playing field.
Hernandez, who was born male but now identifies and competes as female, beat Hogan with a commanding jump of 41 feet and 4 inches—more than four feet ahead of her. In addition to winning the triple jump, Hernandez also won the long jump and finished seventh in the high jump, earning a spot at the CIF Masters Meet on May 24.
For some, Hernandez’s performance highlighted an ongoing issue of fairness in women’s sports. Critics argue that biologically male athletes possess physical advantages that can’t be erased by gender identity or hormone therapy. Supporters, on the other hand, say that transgender athletes deserve inclusion, respect, and the right to compete based on their gender identity.
This particular event didn’t unfold in a vacuum—it landed in the middle of an increasingly heated national conversation. Just months earlier, in February, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender women from participating in female sports categories. Announcing the order, Trump declared, “The war on women’s sports is over,” adding that during the upcoming LA Olympic Games, “my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes.”
Reactions were swift. Some states, such as Maine, have rejected these kinds of restrictions, standing firm in their support for transgender athletes’ rights. But others have introduced or passed legislation echoing Trump’s sentiment, drawing sharp battle lines in statehouses and school boards across the country.
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
Online, reaction to the incident in California was just as divided. Jennifer Sey, founder of the advocacy group XX-XY, posted a photo of the meet with biting commentary: “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!”
Others joined in with sarcasm and anger. Colin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics, wrote, “Wow, what an accomplishment. I’m sure it had nothing to do with being a biological male.” Some commenters supported Hogan’s actions, saying, “Second place is the real champion!” and “Good on her! This nonsense has to stop.” One sign spotted at the event even read: “The weakest men compete with girls, the weakest minds celebrate it.”
Critics say that moments like this highlight how the lines of competition are being blurred. A user online remarked, “All the fight for women’s rights is now gone by the same people who fought for women’s rights in the first place.”
This isn’t the first time controversy has erupted around this issue. In 2022, Payton McNabb, a high school volleyball player in North Carolina, suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a powerful spike from a transgender athlete during a game. The incident prompted state lawmakers to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s teams from middle school through college. McNabb’s mother later revealed they weren’t even allowed to protest at the time, stating, “We couldn’t say, ‘No, she’s not playing against a boy, it’s dangerous.’”
Still, not everyone agrees with such bans. Over 400 current and former Olympic athletes signed an open letter to the NCAA, urging them not to restrict participation by transgender athletes. These signers expressed their desire to stand on what they called “the right side of history,” asserting that sports should be inclusive and accessible to all.
As for Hernandez, she hasn’t shied away from the backlash. In an interview with Capital & Main, she acknowledged the heat she’s taken, but maintained confidence in her right to compete. “I’m still a child, you’re an adult,” she said, addressing her critics. “For you to act like a child shows how you are as a person. All I thought was, ‘You don’t understand. This puts your idiotic claims to trash.’” She argued that being transgender doesn’t guarantee victory and noted that there have been meets where she didn’t even place.
Capital & Main, a nonprofit newsroom focused on California’s social and economic issues, reported that multiple studies show transgender women do not always outperform cisgender women. In fact, in many cases, transgender athletes are at a disadvantage.
Supporters of Hernandez also spoke out. “She followed all the rules,” one user posted. “If people don’t like the outcome, they should change the rules—not blame her.” Others echoed the sentiment: “Trans girls are girls. Hernandez won fair and square.”
Still, the issue isn’t going away. As more states weigh new policies and more athletes speak out, the landscape of youth and professional sports is changing fast. What happened at the CIF meet in California is just the latest chapter in a national conversation that shows no signs of slowing down.
Thanks to Reese Hogan’s silent but bold stand, the spotlight is once again on the question: What does fairness look like in modern athletics? For some, her act was about courage. For others, it was a protest. But either way, it made sure this conversation stays front and center in American sports and culture.
