A jaw-dropping moment at a California high school track meet is sparking outrage and reigniting fierce debate across the country.
During the CIF Southern Section Finals, Crean Lutheran’s Reese Hogan took a bold stand literally by stepping onto the first-place podium, even though she finished second in the triple jump.
The reason? Hogan was edged out by AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete who was born male but now competes as female.
War on Women’s Sports? The Battle Intensifies
The debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports is no longer just cultural it’s tearing the nation apart. Supporters argue it’s about inclusion, identity, and basic human rights. But critics insist it threatens fairness and the core integrity of female competition.
Now the issue has become deeply political. In February, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports divisions.
Declaring, “The war on women’s sports is over,” Trump promised that under his leadership, “my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes” during the upcoming LA Olympic Games.
The decision sparked a nationwide firestorm. States like Maine are pushing back, refusing to adopt such bans, leaving the country divided on how to handle the issue.
And now, fresh fuel has been thrown on the fire this time from California.
The Footage Goes Viral
At the CIF Southern Section Finals on May 18, Crean Lutheran High School’s Reese Hogan made headlines with a bold act of protest. After finishing second in the triple jump to transgender athlete AB Hernandez, Hogan stepped back onto the podium post-ceremony and defiantly stood atop the vacant first-place spot making her message loud and clear.
The moment, captured on viral video, quickly spread across social media becoming a powerful symbol for those who feel women’s sports are no longer a level playing field.
AB Hernandez, a biologically male athlete identifying as female, dominated the triple jump with a staggering leap of 41 feet, 4 inches more than four feet ahead of runner-up Reese Hogan.
Representing Jurupa Valley High School, Hernandez also claimed first in the long jump and placed seventh in the high jump, securing a spot at the CIF Masters Meet on May 24.
The online backlash was swift and fierce.
“This guy won the girls’ long jump and triple jump in a California track meet over the weekend,” wrote Jennifer Sey, founder of the women’s sports advocacy group XX-XY. “He won the triple jump by 8 feet. He’s really crushing it!”
“Wow, what an accomplishment. I’m sure it had nothing to do with being a biological male,” quipped Colin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics, capturing the tone of growing public outrage.
He wasn’t alone. Social media lit up with support for Reese Hogan and sharp criticism of the outcome.
“Second place is the real champion!” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Good on her! This nonsense has to stop.”
One blunt sign spotted at the event summed up the mood for many:
“The weakest men compete with girls, the weakest minds celebrate it.”
Another user vented their frustration:
“I’m sick of this. All that fighting for women’s rights, and now it’s being erased by the very people who once championed them.”
A Pattern of Controversy
This is just the latest flashpoint in a broader national debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports. Critics often point to earlier incidents, including a highly publicized case from North Carolina in 2022.
That year, 17-year-old volleyball player Payton McNabb sustained a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a spike from a transgender opponent. Her mother later shared:
“At the time, we weren’t allowed to speak up. We couldn’t say, ‘No, she’s not playing against a boy, it’s dangerous.’”
The incident helped drive North Carolina lawmakers to pass a law barring transgender athletes from competing on girls’ and women’s sports teams in middle school, high school, and college.
But not everyone agrees with that path. Over 400 current and former Olympic athletes signed a letter opposing similar bans, urging the NCAA to keep sports inclusive and “on the right side of history.”
As for AB Hernandez, the center of the latest controversy, they dismissed the criticism as “ridiculous.”
Still, many online remain unconvinced.
“The very idea of men competing against women is absurd,” one user wrote. “Trans people should have their own division, and let women have their own fair space again.”
“Trans Girls Are Girls”: Supporters Defend Hernandez Amid Controversy
While criticism erupted online, many rushed to defend AB Hernandez and her right to compete.
“She followed all the rules,” one user noted. “If people have a problem, it’s with the rules not her.”
Another added simply, “Trans girls are girls. Hernandez won fair and square.”
In a recent interview with Capital & Main, Hernandez addressed the backlash she’s endured during a turbulent season that included both headline-grabbing victories and events where she didn’t even make the podium.
“I’m still a child you’re an adult and the way some of you are acting says a lot,” she said. “All I could think was, ‘Your argument that I’m unbeatable just because I’m biologically male? It’s garbage now. I have been beaten. There’s your proof.’”
Capital & Main, a nonprofit news outlet focusing on social, economic, and environmental issues in California, also pointed to research suggesting that transgender athletes do not consistently outperform their cisgender counterparts. In fact, some studies show transgender women may face disadvantages in competition compared to cisgender women.
Still, the debate isn’t fading. With state legislatures introducing more bans and elite athletes taking sides, the battle over the future of women’s sports continues to intensify.
And thanks to Reese Hogan’s silent protest on the podium, that conversation just became impossible to ignore.
