Trending Now - Mother of Trans Athlete Criticizes Podium Sharing Rule in Track Dispute

WHO:

Daily Mail Sports - AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete from Jurupa Valley High School.

Fox News - Hernandez's mother, school officials, California Department of Education, state superintendent Tony Thurmond, and President Trump.

WHAT:

Daily Mail Sports - Hernandez won first place in the long jump, high jump, and triple jump at the CIF Southern Section finals in Division 3.

Fox News - The CIF implemented a rule allowing biological female athletes to share podium spots with trans athletes, resulting in co-champions.

Fox News - Hernandez shared the top podium spot with Gwynneth Mureika from Oak Park High School and was absent from the first ceremony.

Fox News - The CIF enacted a pilot program that awarded any female athlete finishing behind a trans athlete one higher spot, leading to shared podiums.

Fox News - Hernandez will compete in the CIF preliminaries next Saturday, with the state finals scheduled to begin on May 29 in Clovis, California.

Daily Mail Sports - Hernandez won first place in the long jump, high jump, and triple jump at the CIF Southern Section finals.

Fox News - The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) implemented a rule allowing biological female athletes to share podium spots with trans athletes, resulting in co-champions.

Fox News - Hernandez shared the top podium spot with Gwynneth Mureika from Oak Park High School and was absent from the first ceremony.

Fox News - The CIF enacted a pilot program that awarded any female athlete finishing behind a trans athlete one higher spot, leading to shared podiums.

Fox News - Hernandez will compete in the CIF preliminaries next Saturday, with the state finals scheduled to begin on May 29 in Clovis, California.

WHERE:

Daily Mail Sports - CIF Southern Section finals in Moorpark, California.

Fox News - Jurupa Valley High School, California.

WHEN:

Fox News - The CIF preliminaries are set for next Saturday, and the state finals begin on May 29, 2026.

WHY:

Fox News - The rule allowing shared podiums was implemented after Hernandez advanced to the state final, prompting criticism from Hernandez's mother and others regarding fairness in competition.

HOW:

Fox News - The CIF's pilot program was designed to ensure that female athletes who finished one spot out of qualifying for the state finals in events with a trans competitor could still compete for the title.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 16:06 UTC)

Hernandez made headlines by winning first place in the long jump, high jump, and triple jump at the CIF Southern Section finals in Division 3, where she shared the top podium spot with Gwynneth Mureika from Oak Park High School. This shared victory came after the CIF implemented a new rule allowing biological female athletes to share podium spots with trans athletes, which has sparked some controversy, particularly from Hernandez's mother regarding fairness in competition. Looking ahead, Hernandez is set to compete in the CIF preliminaries next Saturday, with the state finals kicking off on May 29 in Clovis, California.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 11:54 UTC)

AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete from Jurupa Valley High School, made headlines by winning first place in the long jump, high jump, and triple jump at the CIF Southern Section finals held in Moorpark, California. Hernandez shared the top podium spot with Gwynneth Mureika from Oak Park High School due to a new rule from the California Interscholastic Federation that allows biological female athletes to share podium spots with trans athletes, a decision that has sparked discussions about fairness in competition. Looking ahead, Hernandez is set to compete in the CIF preliminaries next Saturday, with the state finals scheduled to begin on May 29 in Clovis, California.