Trans athlete in California track sparks debate over fairness in high school sports

A high school athlete in California just won three track events so easily that the gap between first and second place raised eyebrows. AB Hernandez, a senior who was born male but competes in girls' events, crushed opponents in the triple jump by over four feet and the long jump by more than a foot at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 preliminaries. That kind of performance difference at the high school level is huge—even in elite competition. Protests popped up outside one meet, with a small group calling themselves Save Girls’ Sports arguing that Hernandez’s biological advantages make the playing field uneven. But Hernandez’s mom, Nereyda, says most of the criticism isn’t about fairness—it’s about politics. With midterm elections heating up, she believes opponents are using her child as a campaign tool rather than focusing on the sport itself. "They’re targeting one kid, " she said, "but they’re affecting all of them. "Supporters of Hernandez say inclusion matters more than results, while critics point to cases like Lia Thomas, a trans swimmer who dominated women’s college competitions after transitioning. Some argue that biological differences create lasting performance gaps that can’t be fixed by training alone. Others insist the real issue is protecting opportunities for female athletes under Title IX, which was designed to ensure equality in school sports. Nereyda isn’t backing down. She says her family has dealt with harassment from adults, not other competitors, and that most athletes have treated AB with respect. Still, the debate keeps growing, with some governors even weighing in on fairness concerns. Meanwhile, Hernandez is set to compete in the CIF finals, where more people will be watching—and more opinions will be shared.