A transgender high school athlete is making headlines and sparking heated debates after breaking several girls’ track and field records at major competitions. AB Hernandez, a junior at Jurupa Valley High School in California, has become the center of a nationwide controversy following a series of dominant performances at the Ontario Relays. Hernandez, who was assigned male at birth but competes in the girls’ category, stunned spectators when she shattered the girls’ triple jump record with an incredible leap of over 40 feet. To put it in perspective, that’s roughly the length of an adult whale shark. Her jump was a full eight feet farther than the second-place finisher, who reached 32 feet. This impressive win wasn’t the end of Hernandez’s success at the event. She also claimed first place in the high jump with a mark of 4 feet, 10 inches, and in the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 6 inches, solidifying her reputation as a dominant force in high school track and field this season.
The victories didn’t stop there. In early March, at the Roosevelt Invitational, Hernandez once again swept both the triple and long jump events. In the triple jump, she finished nearly three feet ahead of the next competitor, and in the long jump, she maintained a two-foot lead over the runner-up. Despite all these wins, Hernandez says she isn’t satisfied yet. She’s setting her sights even higher, aiming to reach 41 feet in the triple jump by the end of the season. “Hopefully, I hit a 41 [footer] this year if it’s possible. Preferably at state so that I can possibly win,” she said after her 40-foot victory in February. “I just keep telling myself you are No. 1—it’s yours to lose.”
While Hernandez’s athletic achievements are undeniable, they have reignited fierce debates about the inclusion of transgender athletes in girls’ sports. Many critics argue that transgender athletes, particularly those competing in strength-based events like sprinting and jumping, have biological advantages that create an uneven playing field. Social media erupted after Hernandez’s victories were made public. Some users expressed outrage, accusing her of having an unfair edge over her cisgender female competitors. Kaitlynn Wheeler, a former competitive swimmer at the University of Kentucky and outspoken advocate against transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, weighed in on social media. “OUTRAGEOUS,” she tweeted. “A BOY in CA just crushed the GIRLS’ triple jump record by 8 feet! AB Hernandez, a MALE, also won the long jump and sprint medley relay & is on his way to women’s state championship. After stealing these titles, he had the audacity to say: ‘You are number one.’ This isn’t fairness…It’s theft! We cannot stay silent.”
Many others shared similar frustrations online. One critic wrote, “Male high school track star who claims to be ‘transgender’ set the Division 3 Girls’ triple jump meet record in SoCal… How much longer do women and girls have to be insulted this way?” Another posted on X, “Unreal. AB Hernandez, a trans-identified boy, set the Division 3 Girls’ triple jump meet record at the Ontario Relays meet in SoCal… He also won the girls’ long jump and helped his team cinch the sprint medley relay win. He says he’s hoping to win the state championships. I think the odds are in his favor.” Other comments pointed out the differences in competition standards. One user noted that while Hernandez’s triple jump distance of over 40 feet was impressive in the girls’ category, it would not qualify for the boys’ triple jump standard in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which requires a distance of 45 feet, 10.5 inches. Another commenter added, “Mediocre men killing it in women’s sports. Total loser.”
The controversy surrounding Hernandez’s victories is not limited to social media debates. Across the United States, lawmakers and school districts are grappling with policies regarding transgender athletes in female sports. Just days after Hernandez’s record-breaking performance, a federal bill aimed at banning transgender women and girls from competing in school athletics failed to advance in the U.S. Senate. The legislation sought to define Title IX protections strictly based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth. Supporters of the bill argue that allowing transgender women to compete in female sports undermines the original purpose of Title IX by creating an unfair advantage. On the other hand, LGBTQ+ advocates and civil rights groups argue that Title IX should be interpreted to protect the rights of transgender athletes, ensuring their inclusion in school sports programs.
With no national policy in place, Newsweek reports that individual states are now deciding whether to adopt policies restricting transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ sports. Some states are moving quickly to implement bans, often following directives supported by former President Donald Trump, while others are standing firm in support of inclusivity and equal rights for transgender athletes. As lawmakers continue to battle over these issues, AB Hernandez’s rise in the world of high school track and field continues. Her accomplishments, while impressive to some, have intensified an already divisive conversation about fairness, inclusion, and the future of women’s sports.
What are your thoughts on transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports? Do you believe it’s fair for the rights of biological women to be compromised for the sake of inclusion? Join the conversation and share your opinion. Let’s keep the discussion going.
