Amid growing national outrage over fairness in girls’ athletics, California has changed its rules for high school track competitions following pressure from President Donald Trump and concerned parents. The move comes after a biological male identifying as female outperformed top female athletes in a state qualifying meet, sparking widespread criticism and renewed calls for action.
At the center of the firestorm is high school junior AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete who qualified for the State Track and Field Championships after dominating the girls’ long jump and triple jump at the Southern Section finals. Hernandez’s winning leap of 19 feet, 2.75 inches was enough to edge out the nearest female competitor, fueling concerns about competitive integrity in women’s sports.
In response to mounting backlash, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced an abrupt rule change ahead of the 2025 State Championships. The revised policy will allow additional biological female athletes who narrowly missed qualifying to participate in the event—a move CIF calls a “pilot entry process” designed to promote fairness without formally excluding transgender participants.
President Trump, who has repeatedly denounced the inclusion of biological males in women’s sports, condemned the initial decision to allow Hernandez to compete, warning that continued federal funding to the state could be jeopardized if California refuses to protect fairness in female athletics. “This is not inclusion—it’s injustice,” Trump said in a recent address, calling the incident “an outright assault on girls’ sports.”
Despite pushback, California Governor Gavin Newsom supported the CIF’s compromise, calling it a “respectful solution” to a “difficult issue.” Critics, however, see the change as a half-measure that still leaves female athletes at a disadvantage.
Parents of affected girls and women’s sports advocates argue the state is sending the message that young women must sacrifice opportunities in the name of political correctness. Many are calling for broader reforms to ensure biological females aren’t displaced from competition or scholarships by athletes with significant physiological advantages.
The rule change has now become a flashpoint in the national debate over transgender participation in sports, with growing momentum behind efforts to establish clearer boundaries that preserve the integrity of women’s athletics. As more states consider legislation on the issue, California’s response—prompted in part by President Trump’s public stance—may mark the beginning of a larger reckoning in the world of school sports.