Latest news with #CIFStateTrackandFieldChampionships
San Francisco Chronicle
11 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Perseverance pays off for Metro standouts at state track and field meet
CLOVIS, Fresno County — St. Ignatius junior Prince Babalola-Buchango and Pittsburg pole vaulter Khaliq Muhammad drew from the long term. Montgomery-Santa Rosa distance runner Hanne Thomsen and St. Mary's-Berkeley jumper Kira Ganta Hatcher were motivated by painful moments earlier in the day. And De La Salle-Concord sprinter Jaden Jefferson was inspired by his own record performance. What all had in common Saturday were individual championships at the 105th running of the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veteran's Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High School. On a sweltering, muggy 100-degree day in the Central Valley, the quintet topped a banner day for Metro Area athletes, who piled up 55 medals in one of the nation's top track and field meets. Babalola-Buchango collected three, finishing fifth in the 100 meters and second in a blistering 110 high hurdles field, before 'putting on the gas and not letting anyone stop me' to capture the 200 title in a lifetime best of 20.79 seconds. The 6-foot-3, 170-pounder bettered his previous best of 20.88 in Friday's trials to the delight of a loud contingent of 30 fans rooting on the popular junior who planned to start a football camp the following day. ' I've been running track for seven years now and every year I've made a championship final,' Babalola-Buchango said. 'But I never won one. I was yearning for a win. I placed second and fifth earlier in the day and I told myself, 'It's my time.' 'So yes, this means everything to me.' Muhammad not only won his first pole vault after finishing second last year and placing as a freshman, but he broke the meet record as well, clearing 17 feet, 10 ½ inches, breaking the mark of 17-10 set in 2019 by Sondre Guttormsen of Davis. He beat the rest of the field by 16 inches. When he cleared the meet record, the crowd of nearly 8,000 roared and Muhammad, whose sister won two state titles, was swarmed and congratulated by teammates. 'When I cleared it for about five seconds I thought 'I can't believe this,'' Muhammad said. 'But then I remembered I put 12 years of hard work into this. I always expect to do well. Even set records.' More urgent and exhaustive speed work that included running open 100s, 200 and 400s contributed to late-season surge. This was the fifth straight week Muhammad broke the 17-foot barrier. Said Pittsburg coach Aaron Alantorre: 'He seemed really locked in and prepared for the moment.' Hatcher definitely wasn't locked in after fouling on her three preliminary long jumps in Saturday's finals, after qualifying second Friday in trials. The normally upbeat junior let out a scream, and immediately fell into a flood of tears after her third scratch, which eliminated her from the competition. But she regrouped and, nearly three hours later, was atop the medal stand with a winning triple jump of 40-5. 'It was really hard,' Hatcher said of her three fouls. 'I was really sad for a pretty long time. But I got a good pep talk from my coach and parents and that boosted me. I realized if I stayed sad I wasn't going to do well in my next event. Said St. Mary's coach Jeff Rogers: 'Honestly, it was like putting Humpty Dumpty back together again emotionally. Kira is an awesome, positive girl and great competitor. It was an amazing comeback performance.' So, too, for Thomsen, who ran a nearly perfect 1,600 only to be edged at the line by Santiago's Braelyn Combe — 4:35.64 to 4:35.69, the second- and third-best times in the country this year. A slight stumble near the finish line might have cost the Stanford-bound star the title. Two hours later, Thomsen found herself in the same position with another Santiago runner, Rylee Blade. Even though Blade was fresher, Thomsen found another gear down the stretch, breaking the state-meet record to win in 9:48.98 for her second 3,200 state crown (she also won as a freshman). Jefferson pulled off perhaps the most stunning 100-meter runs in Friday's prelims, breaking the state record with a 10.01 run, breaking the California mark by 0.19. 'It was a perfect race,' said Jefferson, a top junior football recruit who has committed to North Carolina, of Friday's effort. But the trials showing wouldn't have meant as much without following through on Saturday, which he did by grinding out a victory in 10.27, just ahead of Servite-Anaheim sophomore Benjamin Harris. Jefferson earlier ran a strong second leg to help De La Salle set a PR while placing fourth in the 4x100 relay (40.80). Later he finished fourth in the 200. 'It feels great to be a state champion,' Jefferson said. 'All the hard work and dedication came to light. It's truly exciting to be in the record books.' Jefferson, who last week set a North Coast Section record by winning the Meet of Champions in 10.30, said he wasn't surprised by the 10.01 finish. The warm conditions helped. 'Even though we PR'd on the (4x100 relay) the guys were kind of down because we were capable of winning,' Jefferson said. 'That added fuel to my 100, plus I wanted to bring home a first-place medal back to the school.'
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
AB Hernandez grins on podium as trans athlete wins state championship despite ‘violent' protests over competition
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TRANS athlete AB Hernandez was seen grinning and flaunting medals after defeating female rivals at the California state track championship. Hernandez claimed gold in the high jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) state finals - defying Donald Trump's executive order that bans trans athletes from women's sports. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 AB Hernandez, center left, shares the first-place spot on the podium with Kira Gant Hatcher during a medal ceremony for the triple jump Credit: AP 9 AB Hernandez, center, flashes a victory sign as sharing the first-place spot on the podium with Jillene Wetteland, left, and Lelani Laruelle during a medal ceremony Credit: AP 9 Hernandez was seen grinning and flaunting medals Credit: AP 9 Hernandez of Jurupa Valley competes in the girls' long jump during the CIF State Track and Field Championships Credit: Getty 9 Demonstrators hold signs outside the Veteran's Memorial Stadium during the California high school track-and-field championships in Clovis, California Credit: AP Violent protests erupted yesterday as the trans pupil, 16, sparked a heated row after competing in women's sports. Trump had said on social media that he was 'ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow' Hernandez to compete. But the CIF this week introduced a new policy that allowed an additional student to compete and win medals in the events where Hernandez qualified. This is why the trans athlete shared winning spots with at least one female rival. Hernandez claimed tied-first place in the varsity high jump final alongside Lelani Laruelle and Jillene Wetteland - both females. The trans athlete later won another first-place in the triple jump, sharing the top spot with Kira Gant Hatcher - who trailed by just over a half-meter. But the sports row surrounding Hernandez took a dramatic turn yesterday after furious protesters gathered around the stadium to denounce the trans teen. They were seen carrying placards and boards outside the Veterans' Memorial Stadium, where the sporting event took place. A banner reading "NO BOYS IN GIRLS' SPORTS!" was flown above the sporting venue during the high school track-and-field championships. Trump rips into boxer Imane Khelif about controversial Olympics win against Angela Carini The protests quickly turned violent after one person was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Clovis police Sgt. Chris Hutchison told the Chronicle. He said the person - understood to be an LGBTQ activist - allegedly used a Pride flag to smash a car window, leaving a person injured. During the heats, furious high school parents berated Hernandez's mother for the trans athlete's dominant victory. The video, which has now gone viral on TikTok, shows the parents hounding Hernandez's mother for allowing the teen to compete. One of the parents can be heard yelling at the mother: "What a coward of a woman you are allowing that." Hernandez's story previously made headlines after another teenage girl, who the athlete beat to first place in a separate contest, waited for Hernandez to descend from the podium before moving to pose in the top spot. In the TikTok, the parent can also be heard shouting: "Your mental illness is on your son, coward." 9 Transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley leaves the track during the CIF State Track and Field Championships Credit: Getty 9 Hernandez competes in the high jump Credit: AP 9 A banner reading 'no boys in girls' sports!' is flown above Veterans' Memorial Stadium during the California high school track-and-field championships Credit: AP More than half of the US states have implemented bans on trans youth athletes participating since 2020. But California state law allows the participation of trans women and girls in women's sports. Trump posted on Truth Social: "Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to." His message refers to an Executive Order from February titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports". In an interview with Capital & Main, Hernandez, from Jurupa Valley, California, said: "There's nothing I can do about people's actions, just focus on my own." The trans pupil faced heckling and protesters in the crowd at a track meet earlier this month and was accompanied by campus security and Sheriff's Department deputies, CNN has reported.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
AB Hernandez grins on podium as trans athlete wins state championship despite ‘violent' protests over competition
TRANS athlete AB Hernandez was seen grinning and flaunting medals after defeating female rivals at the California state track championship. Hernandez claimed gold in the high jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) state finals - defying 's executive order that . Advertisement 9 AB Hernandez, center left, shares the first-place spot on the podium with Kira Gant Hatcher during a medal ceremony for the triple jump Credit: AP 9 AB Hernandez, center, flashes a victory sign as sharing the first-place spot on the podium with Jillene Wetteland, left, and Lelani Laruelle during a medal ceremony Credit: AP 9 Hernandez was seen grinning and flaunting medals Credit: AP 9 Hernandez of Jurupa Valley competes in the girls' long jump during the CIF State Track and Field Championships Credit: Getty 9 Demonstrators hold signs outside the Veteran's Memorial Stadium during the California high school track-and-field championships in Clovis, California Credit: AP Trump had said on social media that he was 'ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow' Hernandez to compete. But the CIF this week introduced a new policy that allowed an additional student to compete and win medals in the events where Hernandez qualified. This is why the trans athlete shared winning spots with at least one female rival. Advertisement read more on the row Hernandez claimed tied-first place in the varsity high jump final alongside Lelani Laruelle and Jillene Wetteland - both females. The trans athlete later won another first-place in the triple jump, sharing the top spot with Kira Gant Hatcher - who trailed by just over a half-meter. But the sports row surrounding Hernandez took a dramatic turn yesterday after furious protesters gathered around the stadium to denounce the trans teen. They were seen carrying placards and boards outside the Veterans' Memorial Stadium, where the sporting event took place. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Breaking Exclusive Exclusive A banner reading "NO BOYS IN GIRLS' SPORTS!" was flown above the sporting venue during the high school track-and-field championships. Trump rips into boxer Imane Khelif about controversial Olympics win against Angela Carini The protests quickly turned violent after one person was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Clovis police Sgt. Chris Hutchison told the Chronicle. He said the person - understood to be an LGBTQ activist - allegedly used a Pride flag to smash a car window, leaving a person injured. During the heats, Advertisement The video, which has now gone viral on TikTok , shows the parents hounding Hernandez's mother for allowing the teen to compete. One of the parents can be heard yelling at the mother: "What a coward of a woman you are allowing that." Hernandez's story previously made headlines after another teenage girl, who the athlete beat to first place in a separate contest, waited for Hernandez to descend from the podium before moving to pose in the top spot. In the TikTok, the parent can also be heard shouting: "Your mental illness is on your son, coward." Advertisement 9 Transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley leaves the track during the CIF State Track and Field Championships Credit: Getty 9 Hernandez competes in the high jump Credit: AP 9 A banner reading 'no boys in girls' sports!' is flown above Veterans' Memorial Stadium during the California high school track-and-field championships Credit: AP More than half of the US states have implemented bans on trans youth athletes participating since 2020. Advertisement But California state law allows the participation of trans women and girls in women's sports. Trump posted on Truth Social: "Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to." His message refers to an Executive Order from February titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports". In an interview with Capital & Main, Hernandez, from Jurupa Valley, California, said: "There's nothing I can do about people's actions, just focus on my own." Advertisement The trans pupil faced heckling and protesters in the crowd at a track meet earlier this month and was accompanied by campus security and Sheriff's Department deputies, CNN has reported. 9 AB Hernandez, second left, leaves the stadium after competing in the triple jump at the California high school track-and-field championships
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Transgender track athlete wins gold in California state championships despite Trump threat
CLOVIS, Calif. — Overcoming intense pressure to quit from President Trump, dozens of local protesters and other prominent critics of transgender athletes in girls' sports, 16-year-old AB Hernandez bounded past many of her peers to win multiple gold medals at California's high school track and field championships Saturday. The transgender junior from Jurupa Valley High School — who competed despite a directive from Trump that she be barred from doing so — won state titles in the girls' triple jump and the girl's high jump and took second place in the girls' long jump. Hernandez's success at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships in Clovis came amid high heat — with temperatures above 100 degrees for much of the day — and under an intense spotlight. Earlier in the week, Trump had said on social media that he was 'ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow' Hernandez to compete, wrongly alleging she had won 'everything' in a prior meet and calling her 'practically unbeatable.' Protesters gathered outside the meet both Friday and Saturday to denounce her inclusion and the LGBTQ+-friendly state laws allowing it. Despite all that, Hernandez appeared calm and focused as she competed. When her name was announced for the long jump, she waved to the crowd. When she was announced for the high jump, she smiled. Hernandez beat out all other competitors in the triple jump, though the runner-up was also awarded 1st place under new rules established by the California Interscholastic Federation after Trump issued his threats. Hernandez tied with two other girls in the high jump, with the three of them all clearing the same height and sharing the gold. Hernandez's mother, Nereyda Hernandez, heaped praise on her after the events in a statement provided to The Times, saying, 'As your mother, I cannot fully express how PROUD I am of you.' 'Watching you rise above months of being targeted, misunderstood, and judged not by peers, but by adults who should've known better, has left me in awe of your strength,' her mother said. 'Despite it all, you stayed focused. You kept training, you kept showing up, and now you're bringing THE GOLD HOME!!! During some of Hernandez's jumps, a protester could be heard on a bullhorn from outside the Buchanan High School stadium chanting 'No boys in girls' sports!' California Interscholastic Federation officials banned protest signs inside the facility, but outside protesters held a range of them — including ones that read 'No Child Is Born in the Wrong Body,' 'Trans Girls Are Boys: CIF Do Better,' and 'She Trains to Win. He takes the trophy?' Josh Fulfer, a 46-year-old father and conservative online influencer who lives near the stadium, said he was the protester on the bullhorn. He said Hernandez should not have been competing — regardless of how she placed — because her presence in the competition had a negative 'psychological effect' on her cisgender competitors. 'I stand with truth,' he said. 'Males should not be pretending to be females, and they shouldn't be competing against female athletes.' Loren Webster, a senior from Wilson High School in Long Beach who beat Hernandez in the long jump, said she wasn't giving Hernandez much thought — instead, she was focused on her own performance. 'It wasn't any other person I was worried about. I knew what I was capable of,' Webster said. 'I can't control the uncontrollable.' The intense focus on Hernandez over two days of competition Friday and Saturday reflected a broad rise in conservative outrage over transgender girls competing in sporting events nationwide, despite their representing a tiny fraction of competitors. It also reflected a concerted effort by Trump and other prominent conservative figures to single out Hernandez, individually, as an unwitting poster child for such concerns. Recent polls, including one conducted by The Times last year, have shown that many Americans support transgender rights, but a majority oppose transgender girls participating in youth sports. California has long defended transgender kids and their right to participate in youth athletics, but other states have increasingly moved to limit or remove such rights entirely. Trump first latched onto transgender issues with fervor during his presidential campaign, spending millions of dollars on anti-transgender political ads. Since being elected, he has issued a wave of executive orders and other policies aimed at rolling back transgender rights and protections. Again and again, Hernandez has been singled out in that discussion. Earlier this week, Trump referenced Hernandez in a social media post in which he said his administration would cut federal funding to California if it didn't block her from competing in this weekend's state finals and more broadly get in line with his executive order purporting to ban transgender youth from participating in school sports nationwide. The following day, U.S. Justice Department officials referenced Hernandez again, announcing the launch of an investigation into whether California, its interscholastic sports federation and the Jurupa Unified School District are violating the civil rights of cisgender girls by allowing transgender students such as Hernandez to compete in sports. At the meet Friday and Saturday, Hernandez often blended in with the hundreds of other athletes, hardly drawing attention. She was less conspicuous by far than the protesters there to denounce her for competing. Hernandez's mother has pleaded with Trump and other adults in recent days to show her daughter compassion, calling it heartbreaking 'every time I see my child being attacked, not for a wrongdoing, but simply for being who they are.' She has said her daughter 'is not a threat,' while the harassment directed at her is 'not just cruel, it's dangerous.' Local protesters — some with ties to national conservative organizations — cast Hernandez's competing in girls' events in starkly different terms. Before being escorted out by police, Sophia Lorey, outreach director for the conservative California Family Council, walked around the stadium Saturday wearing a hat reading, 'Women's Sports, Women Only.' She told members of the crowd that Hernandez was a boy and handed out pink 'Save Girls' Sports' bracelets and fliers directing people to an online petition calling on the California Interscholastic Federation to change its policies to bar transgender athletes from competition. Trump administration officials have taken a similar stance. In a letter Wednesday to interscholastic federation executive director Ronald W. Nocetti, Assistant Atty. Gen. Harmeet Dhillon, who was appointed by Trump to head the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, called Hernandez's success in recent track and field events 'alarming.' And she said the California policies allowing Hernandez to compete are a potential violation of Title IX, the 1972 federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs and other activities that receive federal funding. Dhillon also noted Gov. Gavin Newsom's own recent remark to conservative activist Charlie Kirk that transgender girls competing in sports is 'deeply unfair.' The remark came in a conversation on Newsom's podcast in March, in which Hernandez was also singled out. Kirk, a co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, asked Newsom whether he would voice his opposition to Hernandez competing in girls' track and field events. Newsom said he agreed such situations were 'unfair' but that he also took issue with 'the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities,' including transgender people. When Kirk suggested Newsom could say that he has 'a heart for' Hernandez but still thinks her competing is unfair, Newsom again said he agreed. Newsom has issued no such statement since. But, the playing field has shifted in California for transgender athletes since Trump started talking about Hernandez. On Wednesday, the CIF announced a change in its rules for this weekend's championships. Under the new rules, a cisgender girl who is bumped from qualifying for an event final by a transgender athlete will still advance to compete in the finals. In addition, the federation said, any cisgender girl who is beaten by a transgender competitor will be awarded whichever medal she would have claimed had the transgender athlete not been competing. The CIF did not mention Hernandez by name in announcing its policy change, but it did make direct reference to the high jump, triple jump and long jump — the three events in which she was to compete. Under the new rules, Hernandez shared her place on each of the event podiums with other girls. The CIF did not respond to a list of questions about its new policy. A spokesman for Newsom applauded the change, but others were unimpressed. Critics of transgender athletes rejected it as insufficient and demanded a full ban on transgender athletes. Fulfer, the protester on the bullhorn, said the CIF was 'admitting that they've got it wrong for a long time' while still not doing enough to fix it — which Trump would see clearly. 'I hope Donald Trump sees what happens this weekend, and I hope he pulls the funding away from California,' Fulfer said. LGBTQ+ advocates also criticized the rule change, but for different reasons, calling it a crass capitulation that singled out a teenager to appease a crowd of bullies picking a political fight. 'The fact that these same political players continue to bully and harass one child, even after CIF changed its policy, shows this was never about sports or fairness,' said Kristi Hirst, co-founder of the public education advocacy group Our Schools USA. 'It was simply about using a child, while compromising their personal safety on a national scale, to score political points and distract from the serious issues families and communities in this country are actually concerned about,' Hirst said, 'affording groceries, the loss of health care, and access to quality teachers and resources in their public schools.' Nereyda Hernandez said she hoped AB's wins would serve as inspiration for other kids who feel 'unseen.' 'To every young person watching, especially those who feel unseen or unheard, let AB be your reminder that authenticity, courage, and resilience shine BRIGHTER than hate,' she said. 'It won't be easy, but definitely worth it.'
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Transgender teen competes in California high school athletics championships despite protests and Donald Trump criticism
CONTROVERSY Transgender teen AB Hernandez sparked controversy and rule changes while competing in California State Track & Field Championships amid protests and political backlash most notably US President Donald Trump. Picture:/AFP On Friday, a small plane circled the stadium pulling a banner that read: "No boys in girls sports!" Hernandez's participation at the meeting has been the subject of intense controversy, with the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) scrambling to adjust competition rules this week as anger grew on all sides. AB Hernandez, 16, was the top qualifier for Saturday's finals in the girls' long jump and girls' high jump at the California State Track & Field Championships in Clovis, outside of Fresno. A transgender high school athlete shrugged off scattered protests and heated criticism from President Donald Trump to reach the finals of multiple events at California's state championships on Friday. CIF Updates Rules on Trans Athlete Participation and Medal Allocation On Tuesday, CIF officials announced that entry rules had been modified so that biological females were not excluded from competition due to the participation of trans athletes. A day later, CIF issued another rule change -- specifically targeting events in which Hernandez was qualified to compete -- which mandates that any athlete who misses out on a podium finish behind a trans athlete would still receive a medal. "If necessary, in the high jump, triple jump and long jump events at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships, a biological female student-athlete who would have earned a specific placement on the podium will also be awarded the medal for that place and the results will be reflected in the recording of the event," the federation announced in a statement. The last-minute rules changes came after days of controversy which have included Hernandez being targeted by Trump on social media. The US President, who did not mention Hernandez by name, threatened to withhold federal funding from California in future if she was allowed to compete in this week's championships, which got under way on Friday with finals due on Saturday. "As a female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable. THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS," Trump wrote. "Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered is a totally ridiculous situation!!!" Trump's comment was followed by an announcement from the US Department of Justice that it had launched an investigation into whether California had violated Title IX, the law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding. Local and state officials have also criticised Hernandez's participation, calling for the teenager to be prevented from competing. At a press conference on Thursday, Clovis mayor Diane Pearce called for CIF to block Hernandez's participation following their rule amendments earlier in the week. "Today, I call on CIF to do the right thing. Updates one and two were not enough, but the third time can be the charm," Pearce said. "CIF still has a chance to make it right by removing biological males from girls' sports." AFP
