A transgender high school athlete has sparked outrage after dominating several girls’ track and field events and setting a new record in the girls’ triple jump. AB Hernandez, a junior at Jurupa Valley High School in California, competed in the Ontario Relays and left many stunned when she shattered the girls’ triple jump record. Hernandez, who is a biological male competing in the girls’ category, jumped more than 40 feet—a distance often compared to the length of an adult whale shark—and finished a full eight feet ahead of the runner-up, whose best effort was 32 feet. Hernandez didn’t stop there. She also won the high jump with a leap of 4 feet, 10 inches, and the long jump with an impressive 17 feet, 6 inches. Her wins sparked immediate backlash online and reignited the fierce debate about transgender participation in girls’ sports, particularly in events where strength and power play a significant role.
At the Roosevelt Invitational held earlier this month, Hernandez once again claimed top honors in both the triple jump and long jump. In the triple jump, she finished nearly three feet ahead of the second-place competitor, and in the long jump, she maintained a two-foot lead. Following her victories, Hernandez shared her personal goal of hitting a 41-foot triple jump this year, ideally at the state championship meet. “Hopefully, I hit a 41 [footer] this year if it’s possible. Preferably at state so that I can possibly win,” she said. She added, “I just keep telling myself you are No. 1—it’s yours to lose.”
Despite Hernandez’s evident talent and commitment to the sport, her victories have added fuel to an already heated debate over whether transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in girls’ sports. Many critics argue that biological differences between males and females give transgender athletes an unfair advantage, particularly in sports that emphasize speed, strength, and endurance. Outrage quickly spread across social media, with several users accusing Hernandez of having an inherent physical advantage due to being born male. Kaitlynn Wheeler, a former University of Kentucky swimmer and vocal advocate against trans athletes competing in women’s sports, expressed her frustration on social media, writing, “OUTRAGEOUS. 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: ‘I just keep telling myself, ‘You are number one.’” Wheeler added, “This isn’t fairness… It’s theft! We cannot stay silent.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, questioning how much longer women and girls in sports would be forced to compete under what they see as unfair circumstances. One user commented, “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 post on X (formerly Twitter) stated, “Unreal. AB Hernandez, a trans-identified boy, set the Division 3 Girls’ triple jump meet record at the Ontario Relays in SoCal… He also won the girls’ long jump and helped his team win the sprint medley relay. He says he’s hoping to win the [state championships]. I think the odds are in his favor.” Meanwhile, a Facebook commenter sarcastically remarked, “Wow, what an accomplishment. I’m sure it had nothing to do with being a biological male.”
Some critics pointed out that while Hernandez’s 40-foot triple jump was enough to dominate the girls’ event, it wouldn’t even qualify her for the boys’ standard in California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) events, where the minimum qualifying mark is 45 feet, 10.5 inches. “Mediocre men killing it in women’s sports. Total loser,” another social media user posted.
The controversy extends far beyond social media discussions. Across the country, lawmakers are embroiled in battles over the participation of transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports. Advocates for restricting trans athletes’ participation argue that the integrity of female sports is at stake, while supporters of inclusion claim that excluding transgender athletes violates their rights and goes against the principles of equality. Just days after Hernandez’s record-breaking performance, a federal bill aimed at banning transgender women and girls from competing in female sports failed to advance in the U.S. Senate. The proposed legislation sought to define Title IX protections based solely on biological sex at birth but did not receive enough votes to move forward.
Currently, without a federal standard, individual states are left to decide their own policies on transgender athletes in high school sports. Some states are moving quickly to implement bans, aligning with directives from former President Donald Trump, while others are standing firm in their commitment to inclusivity. As the debate rages on, AB Hernandez continues to rise in the high school track and field world, her performance sparking intense conversations about fairness, inclusion, and the future of women’s sports in America.
