Trans competitor finishes first in California girls’ track and field championships amid spectator protests

AB Hernandez, a Jurupa Valley High School junior, came in first in both the high jump and triple jump events. In the high jump, Hernandez came in first, clearing a jump of 5 feet seven inches, and had no failed attempts, per the New York Post.

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) issued policy changes last week, the same day Trump threatened to pull federal funding from the state, which meant that Hernandez shared the first-place podium with two female athletes, Jillene Wetteland and Lelanie Laruelle, who also cleared the high mark.

In triple jump, Hernandez came in first with a jump of 42 feet, two inches, and shared the podium with Kira Grant Hatcher, who jumped 40 feet, five inches.

CIF issued a pilot policy on Tuesday that stated no biological female athlete would be displaced from a spot at the championships by a biological male athlete.

"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," a press release from CIF stated.

Police had set up designated "free speech zones" at the event, which saw a sizeable number of protestors, Fox News reported. Witnesses told the outlet that more than 50 protestors had been at the competition on Friday.

This change came after Trump wrote on Tuesday, in the wake of Hernandez having multiple first-place finishes at CIF’s Southern Section Masters Meet, "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. Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to. The Governor, himself, said it is 'UNFAIR.' I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go??? In the meantime I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!"

Per Fox News, the man who was allegedly attacked was content creator and California conservative activist Josh Fulfer, who goes by "Oreo Express" on social media. The protestor, who has been identified by police as 19-year-old Ethan Kroll, was seen on footage striking Fulfer with a flag pole that had a trans flag attached to it.

Kroll was arrested by Clovis police for assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, obstructing a public officer and vandalism.

Fulfer told Fox News, "They were yelling something, and they recognized me right away. And they said something. I don't even know, I can't understand what they were saying, but I said something in the nature of, 'If you're so proud and you're not ashamed of your cause, why don't you show your face? Why are you so embarrassed to show your face?"

"And then they yelled something. And when they yelled something, they started going right across the street onto the center divide. And then they said, ‘You're Josh Fulfer,’ and started hitting me with the pole. They put the pole in the car and started jabbing me with the pole."

Fulfer said he received bruising and scrapes to his arm, and his car sustained damage after Kroll smashed the roof and door of Fulfer’s car.