Latest news with #CIFStateMeet
National Post
27-05-2025
- General
- National Post
California changes competition rules for track and field final amid controversy over trans athlete
The governing board for California high school sports is changing its competition rules at this weekend's state track and field championships to allow more girls to take part amid controversy over the participation of a trans student-athlete. Article content Article content The California Interscholastic Federation said it was extending access for more cisgender athletes to participate in the championship meet this weekend. The federation announced the change Tuesday after President Donald Trump posted on his social media site about the participation of a trans athlete in the competition. Article content Article content 'Under this pilot entry process, any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section's automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships,' the group said in a statement. 'The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.' Article content The federation didn't specify whether the change applies to all events or only events where a trans athlete has qualified for the final. The change only applies to this weekend's competition. Article content In a social media post Tuesday morning, Trump threatened to pull federal funding in California if the state did not bar trans students from participating in girls sports. The post referenced AB Hernandez, a trans athlete who competes in girls track and field. Article content 'THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,' Trump said. Article content The Trump administration launched an investigation earlier this year over a law that says districts can't force teachers and staff to notify parents if a student changes their gender identity at school. Article content Trump's comments came months after California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on his podcast that transgender girls' participation in girls sports was 'deeply unfair.' Article content Trump said he planned to talk to Newsom about the issue Tuesday. The governor's office did not immediately confirm the call but weighed in on the California Interscholastic Federation rule change. Article content 'CIF's proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness _ a model worth pursuing,' Gardon said. 'The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.' Article content The Associated Press tried to reach Hernandez's mother through an email address and phone number listed in public records, but has not heard back. Article content Hernandez is scheduled to compete in the girls varsity triple jump, high jump and long jump in the state finals. Article content
San Francisco Chronicle
21-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
St. Ignatius junior Ellie McCuskey-Hay eyes gold at CCS track and field finals
It seems like ancient history to St. Ignatius junior track and field standout Ellie McCuskey-Hay, even though it was just two years ago. As a freshman, out of lane 8, a great start propelled her to a second-place finish in the CIF State Meet 100-meter dash in 11.52 seconds. Later in the competition she let loose on her final attempt of the long jump, going 19 feet, 7¼ inches to place sixth. Both marks that day at Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Clovis were considerable personal bests — her previous top numbers were 11.81 and 18-10½. 'That was such a surreal moment,' McCuskey-Hay said last week from the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, where she was the San Francisco High School Awards' female athlete of the year. 'I couldn't believe that had happened. Seems so long ago. … I've come very far since then. I'm more consistent than ever.' The day and memory bring big smiles to the petite, powerful, fast-twitched 5-foot-4 athlete. But it could also be a burden to beat two elite marks, which are still lifetime bests. Last season she finaled in both events at state, taking fifth in the long jump (19-0) and ninth in the 100 (11.71). This season, heading into Saturday's Central Coast Section finals at Gilroy High School, she ranks fifth in the state in the 100 (11.54) and seventh in the long jump (19-7). She's perfectly positioned to break those freshman marks and add to her collection of four state medals. The 4x100 relay team that she anchors with Breion Glaspie, Avery Hui-Bytof and Sophia Boudraa also ranks 17th in state at 47.11 and could reach a state finals. But McCuskey-Hay, the daughter of a Marin Waves Track and Field Club founder and director, knows nothing can be taken for granted in this sport. There's weather. Starts. Health. And, perhaps most important, a mindset. That's why McCuskey-Hay works with a sports psychologist to manage a sport where every millisecond and movement counts. 'I would say I'm pretty hard on myself when things don't go the way I'd like them to,' McCuskey-Hay said. 'Restructuring that mindset really helps me. 'I've been doing this so long, I know all the abilities are there. It's a matter of putting it all together and being optimistic.' She's been a model of consistency, breaking 12 seconds in all nine races this season — winning eight — while running 11.54 twice and 11.55 once. Her only non-victory was placing fifth at the nationally recognized Arcadia Invitational, where she went 11.54. In the 200, she won six of eight times with a best of 23.90 (wind-aided), the 11th best time in California this year. McCuskey-Hay could easily bring home four golds from Saturday's meet as she did at the West Catholic Athletic League championship on May 9. North Salinas sophomore Clara Adams and Mountain View senior Hannah Rutherford in the 200 present the biggest obstacles for McCuskey-Hay. 'I definitely have certain expectations and would like to run certain times and jump certain distances," McCuskey-Hay said. 'But I think it's important to go with the flow.' More CCS athletes to watch: The boys 1,600 should be the most competitive as Menlo School-Atherton senior Landon Pretre (4:06.23) and Los Gatos senior Aydon Stefanopoulos (4:06.62) possess the third- and fourth-best times in the state this season. They also rank first and fifth in the 3,200. … Crystal Springs Uplands-Hillsborough senior Benjamin Bouie, the defending champion with a best of 4:06.92, and Sacred Heart Cathedral senior Miles Cook (4:08.33) are two more strong threats in the 1,600. … Other top 10 state marks this season from CCS athletes include: Woodside senior Mattheo Lacasia (400, 47.22, ninth), St. Ignatius senior Prince Buchango-Babalola (110 hurdles, 13.98, seventh), Serra senior Luke Lewis (shot put, 61-6¼, fourth), Woodside senior Evan Usher (shot put, 59-8, ninth), Mountain View senior Rutherford (400, 54.01, fourth), Palo Alto senior Kinga Czajkowska (girls 1,600, 4:46.34, fourth), Mitty senior Maya Ifo Desai (girls discus, 154-11, fourth), Monta Vista-Cupertino junior Lelani Laruelle (high jump, 5-8, tied for second), Burlingame senior Avery Boyse (pole vault, 13-0, second), Monta Vista senior Clara Fan (triple jump, 39-0, 10th).
Los Angeles Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
4 local high school divers advance to CIF State meet
WALNUT — Laguna Beach High senior Chase Shipp saved the best for last on Tuesday afternoon at the CIF State diving qualifier. He nailed his sixth and final dive, a reverse 1 ½ somersault 2 ½ twist free. The seven judges gave him a total score of 64.50, his top mark of the day. 'I was really happy with it,' Shipp said. 'I knew that I had to hit it to hopefully get first. I would have liked another four points on it hopefully, but it's all good. I felt the board really move well under my feet, and felt the entry line up pretty well.' Shipp ended up placing a close second to Grant Schneider of Capistrano Valley Christian at the qualifier meet, held at Mt. San Antonio College. The effort was more than enough to get him to next week's CIF State Meet for the third time. Edison sophomore Allison McNichols and Newport Harbor juniors Corinna Ruffini and Violet Carone also advanced to the state meet. Diving finals for boys and girls will be held May 15 at Clovis Olympic Swim Complex. McNichols qualified third from the CIF Southern Section on the girls' side, with Ruffini in fifth. Carone took the sixth and final qualifying spot, among the 12 divers assembled for Tuesday's meet. The conditions were cool and misty Tuesday, so the hot tub was the area of choice when the divers weren't actually executing their 1-meter dives. 'It could be a lot worse,' noted Shipp, who is bound for Harvard University. 'Last weekend, up at Novato [at the USA Diving Junior Region 10 Championships], 20 miles per hour gusts were literally blowing people off of the boards.' Shipp, who won his second straight CIF Southern Section Division 2 title last week, has little left to prove but is looking for a solid meet to cap his high school diving career. He finished seventh at the state meet last year, and sixth as a sophomore. 'I'm just going in there hoping to do as well as possible,' he said. 'I don't see a big difference in it being senior year. I'm just going out every time to do the best I can.' McNichols is headed to the state meet for the first time, and said she was thrilled. She started strong on Tuesday, with her first dive, an inward 1 ½ somersault pike, netting her a score of 50.40 that tied for her best. 'That's probably my favorite dive,' she said. 'I feel like that dive, I always hit really good. I really like it. At practice it's always a good, solid, consistent dive for me.' Newport Harbor's Ruffini and Carone are headed to the state meet for the second and first time, respectively. Ruffini, who finished second at the Division 1 finals, overcame a rough start with her second dive Tuesday. Her final dive, a forward 2 ½ somersault tuck, earned a score of 50.40 that was tops among girls' divers in the sixth round. 'My first two dives weren't my best, but I definitely came back,' she said. 'My last few, I had better scores on, which I was really stoked about. At state, I'm just going to need to be a little bit more consistent. That's definitely something that I've been working on this year, consistency.' With only the top six divers in each gender moving on, other locals saw their seasons end Tuesday. Newport Harbor junior Nikka Asgarian placed eighth at the qualifying meet on the girls' side, while Edison senior Ian Dien finished 12th on the boys' side. Asgarian, who dives club for Crown Valley Divers along with Shipp and Carone, was one of the most vocal in encouraging her fellow competitors after strong dives. McNichols and Ruffini dive for Coast Divers, which is headed up by Newport Harbor coach Kaeden Cogbill. 'We're not just competitors, we're all really good friends,' Shipp said. 'It's a really tight-knit community. That's one of the things that makes diving so much fun, instead of just intense, that collaborative community.'
