The California Interscholastic Federation State Track and Field Championships are set to take place this weekend at Buchanan High School, drawing athletes from across California — and national attention due to the participation of a transgender athlete.

AB Hernandez, a junior at Jurupa Valley High School, has been a central figure in the CIF Southern Section postseason, according to Sports Illustrated. Hernandez, an outspoken transgender athlete competing in girls track and field, qualified for the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet after securing two victories and a seventh-place finish.

Trump Takes to Truth Social

The State Championships, scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Clovis, come on the heels of increasing political scrutiny.

President Donald Trump addressed the matter on his social network, Truth Social, saying, “California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow ‘MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.’ This week a transitioned Male athlete, at a major event, won ‘everything,’ and is now qualified to compete in the ‘State Finals’ next weekend. As a Male, he was a less than average competitor. As a Female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable. THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.”

Trump also claimed he would “speak to [Governor Gavin Newsom] today to find out which way he wants to go,” and warned of potential consequences: “I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals.”

CIF Responds to Controversy

A CIF spokesperson gave GV Wire this statement:

“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. With this in mind, the CIF will be implementing a pilot entry process for the 2025 CIF State Track and Field 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 believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.”

Assemblymember David Tangipa (R-Clovis) responded to CIF’s pilot program on X (formerly Twitter) saying, “This ‘pilot program’ is a quiet admission that opportunities are being stolen from female athletes.”

“Title IX is clear. We must protect women’s sports and spaces,” he said. “It’s time California follows the law.”

This “pilot program” is a quiet admission that opportunities are being stolen from female athletes.

Title IX is clear. We must protect women’s sports and spaces.

It’s time California follows the law. https://t.co/B1qLYywZHK

— David Tangipa (@DavidTangipa) May 27, 2025

Diane Pearce, Clovis Mayor Pro Tem, echoed Trump’s sentiments on social media. “A biological male will be competing against our girls and he is favored to win the state title in at least one event,” Pearce wrote. “This is in direct violation of President Trump’s Executive Order from February 5 – Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”

Despite the outcry, the CIF State Championships are proceeding as planned at Buchanan High School as of time of publication.

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