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USA Today
17 hours ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Transgender athlete shares 2 titles at California state track and field meet
Transgender athlete shares 2 titles at California state track and field meet Show Caption Hide Caption Trump signs executive order banning trans women from sports teams President Trump signed an executive order barring transgender women and girls from playing on school sports teams. The California Interscholastic Federation crowned two champions in a pair of events at Saturday's state high school track and field meet when transgender athlete AB Hernandez placed first in the high jump and triple jump – and finished second in the long jump. Hernandez shared the podium with her cisgender competitors following a rule change enacted last week that allowed athletes assigned female at birth to receive medals based on where they would have finished if a transgender athlete had not competed. The awards ceremonies after the events did not produce any protests or disruptions – according to New York Times reporting from the meet in Clovis, California – as some had feared if Hernandez won a state title. Hernandez and Brooke White of River City High School celebrated on the podium after the long jump as they "put their arms around each other, held their medals out from their chests and smiled for photos." Despite isolated protests outside and inside the stadium, cheers largely drowned them out, the Times reported. Hernandez also was part of a three-way tie for first in the high jump after all three competitors cleared the same height. The rule change was made after President Donald Trump demanded that Hernandez – a 16-year-old junior at Jurupa Valley High School in Riverside County – not be allowed to compete in girls track and field events at the state meet. Trump threatened to withhold federal funds to the state if it did not comply with an executive order he signed Feb. 5 seeking to bar transgender student athletes from playing women's sports. State athletics officials drafted the new rule to allow additional female athletes to take part in events in which a transgender athlete was competing. "The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code," the federation said in a statement.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
California changes rules for high school track meet after Trump's objections
California changes rules for high school track meet after Trump's objections Show Caption Hide Caption Donald Trump 'disappointed' with Vladimir Putin President Donald Trump told reporters he was 'disappointed' with Russian President Vladimir Putin, referencing latest attacks on Ukraine. There could be two winners in some girls events this weekend at the California state high school track and field meet − a transgender athlete and a cisgender athlete. The scenario is part of rule changes made after President Donald Trump demanded a transgender athlete not be allowed to compete in girls track and field events. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the state's governing body for high school athletics, clarified the new rules in a press release May 28. A new division will not be created to separate transgender athletes from cisgender athletes. But athletes assigned female at birth will receive medals based on where they would have finished if a transgender athlete had not competed in the same event − part of what the CIF is calling a "pilot entry process.'' Governor Gavin Newsom's spokesman, Izzy Gardon, in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports, said, 'CIF's proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness. The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.' AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old transgender athlete, won titles in the triple jump and long jump at the southern California regional championship last weekend and is scheduled to compete in those events and the high jump in girls' varsity. On May 27, Trump threatened to withhold federal funds from California if the state does not follow an executive order seeking to bar transgender athletes from women's sports. His post on social media referred to a trans athlete who competes in girls track and field. Later in the day, the CIF changed the rules for the championship, which will be held May 30-31 in Clovis. "The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code,'' the federation said in a statement. "With this in mind, the CIF will be implementing a pilot entry process for the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships. As part of the changes, additional female athletes were invited to compete in the 2025 state championships. COMMENTARY: 16-year-old girl in harm's way so Trump can score points with his base Medals at the state meet Hernandez, a top contender in the girls triple jump and long jump, could end up standing on the medal podium next to the athlete who finishes second in the overall standings. Both would receive a first-place medal. A duplicate medal would be created to accomodate the two athletes. Hernandez would receive a medal based on her finish in the overall standings while the other athletes will receive medals based on their finish in the standings excluding Hernandez's results. The CIF awards nine medals to the top boys and girls finishers in each event. (By contrast, other states create up to five divisions for each event to accomodate the athletes representing schools with a wide range of enrollments.) Hernandez also is expected to contend for a medal in the high jump. Also, as part of the rule changes, the CIF said in a statement that it would invite "any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark" to compete in the state championships. '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 CIF said in a statement. 'The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.' The CIF did not say how many athletes that could impact. Trump's post on social media Although the CIF did not cite Trump, the rule changes took place hours after his social media post that in part read, "THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS." Trump isn't the only one who has sounded off on the matter. So has Hernandez. 'I'm still a child, you're an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,'' she told Capital & Main in a story published May 15. Certain things remain unknown. Such as how many female athletes will be impacted by the new rules and whether they'll be applied only in events in which Hernandez is competing. The CIF did immediately respond to requests for information submitted by USA TODAY Sports. In March, Newsom said on his podcast that it is "deeply unfair" to allow transgender girls and women to compete in women's sports. California law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, including at schools. State law also allows trans student athletes to compete on sports teams that align with their gender identity. Last month Democratic state lawmakers blocked two bills that would have banned transgender athletes from girls sports.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
California adjusts high school sports rules after Trump threats over trans athletes
The California Interscholastic Federation, a state organization that oversees high school sports, announced a change Tuesday that aims to ensure all student-athletes have the ability to compete. The new process would allow '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,' to compete in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships. 'The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code,' the organization said in a statement. Trump threatens California funding over transgender high school athlete 'CIF's proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing,' Izzy Gardon, a spokesperson for the Gov. Gaviin Newsom, said in a statement. 'The governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.' The change was announced hours after President Donald Trump threatened to pull federal funding from California over a transgender high school track and field athlete who qualified over the weekend for the state finals. Officials said they agreed to implement this pilot program after the conclusion of the CIF Section's Track and Field qualifying meets this past weekend. In a post on Truth Social, Trump railed against 16-year-old AB Hernandez, a junior at Jurupa Valley High School, who won the girls' long jump and triple jump events at the California Interscholastic Federation's Southern Section Masters on May 24, qualifying for the state championships that will take place May 30 – 31, The Hill reported. In February, Trump signed an executive order that states that 'it is the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women's sports' and threatens to 'rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.' California is one of 22 states that have laws requiring transgender students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity. The law was signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013. According to Newsom's office, out of the 5.8 million students in the state's K-12 public school system, the number of active transgender student-athletes is estimated to be in the single digits. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
DOJ launches Title IX investigation into trans athletes in California girls' sports
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that it is opening an investigation into whether Title IX, a federal civil rights law, is being violated by AB 1266, a California law that permits transgender females to participate in female sports teams at state schools. Letters were sent to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and the California Interscholastic Federation, a state organization that oversees high school sports, the department announced. 'The investigation is to determine whether California, its senior legal, educational, and athletic organizations, and the school district are engaging in a pattern or practice of discrimination on the basis of sex,' a news release stated. This announcement comes one day after President Donald Trump threatened to pull federal funding from California over a transgender high school track and field athlete who qualified over the weekend for the state finals. Mother of girl, 4, receiving treatment in L.A. speaks out against life-threatening deportation to Mexico In a post on Truth Social, Trump railed against 16-year-old AB Hernandez, a junior at Jurupa Valley High School, who won the girls' long jump and triple jump events at the California Interscholastic Federation's Southern Section Masters on May 24, qualifying for the state championships that will take place May 30 – 31, The Hill reported. Hours after Trump's announcement, the CIF announced a change aimed at ensuring all student-athletes have the ability to compete. The new process would allow '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,' to compete in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships. 'The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code,' the organization said in a statement. In February, Trump signed an executive order that states that 'it is the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women's sports' and threatens to 'rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.' California is one of 22 states that have laws requiring transgender students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity. The law was signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013. According to Newsom's office, out of the 5.8 million students in the state's K-12 public school system, the number of active transgender student-athletes is estimated to be in the single digits. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
California allowing more girls in track-and-field championship amid Trump transgender athlete pressure
The governing body for high school sports in California said it would allow more girls to compete in this weekend's track-and-field state championships as President Trump threatens the state's funding over a transgender student-athlete's upcoming participation. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced Tuesday it is changing its competition rules to extend entry to 'any biological female student-athlete' who would have 'earned the next qualifying mark' in their event for the state championships in Clovis on May 30–31. 'The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code,' the group said in a statement. 'The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.' The organization did not return a request for clarification about whether the policy change applies to all events or only to ones where a transgender girl qualified. A spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said the organization's proposed pilot 'is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing.' 'The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach,' said the spokesperson, Izzy Gardon. In the debut episode of his podcast, 'This is Gavin Newsom,' in March, Newsom broke from most other Democrats by saying he believes transgender athletes participating in girls' and women's sports is 'deeply unfair.' Later, at a press conference in Modesto, Calif., Newsom said he would be 'open' to a conversation about limiting trans athletes' participation in the state if such a discussion were conducted 'in a way that's respectful and responsible and could find a kind of balance.' Student-athletes in California are able to compete on teams that best align with their gender identity under a 2013 law signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown (D). The CIF announced its new entry process hours after Trump threatened to withhold funding from California and ordered local officials to bar 16-year-old AB Hernandez, a junior at Jurupa Valley High School, from competing at the state championships this weekend, though the organization said it decided to implement its new entry process several days earlier. 'THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,' Trump wrote early Tuesday in a post on Truth Social, referring to Hernandez's qualifying for the state championship meet. Trump did not mention Hernandez by name. '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,' Trump wrote, referencing an order he signed in February stating it is 'the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women's sports.' At a signing ceremony in Washington, Trump said his administration will not allow transgender athletes to compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Responding to Trump's order, the CIF said it would continue allowing transgender girls to compete on girls school sports teams. The Department of Education announced it had opened a Title IX investigation into the organization shortly after. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
