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There could be two winners in some girls events this weekend at the California state high school track and field meet − a transgender athlete and a cisgender athlete.
The scenario is part of rule changes made after President Donald Trump demanded a transgender athlete not be allowed to compete in girls track and field events.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the state’s governing body for high school athletics, clarified the new rules in a press release May 28.
A new division will not be created to separate transgender athletes from cisgender athletes. But athletes assigned female at birth will receive medals based on where they would have finished if a transgender athlete had not competed in the same event − part of what the CIF is calling a “pilot entry process.”
Governor Gavin Newsom’s spokesman, Izzy Gardon, in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports, said, “CIF’s proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness. The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.”
AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old transgender athlete, won titles in the triple jump and long jump at the southern California regional championship last weekend and is scheduled to compete in those events and the high jump in girls’ varsity.
On May 27, Trump threatened to withhold federal funds from California if the state does not follow an executive order seeking to bar transgender athletes from women’s sports. His post on social media referred to a trans athlete who competes in girls track and field.
Later in the day, the CIF changed the rules for the championship, which will be held May 30-31 in Clovis.
“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,” the federation said in a statement. “With this in mind, the CIF will be implementing a pilot entry process for the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships.
As part of the changes, additional female athletes were invited to compete in the 2025 state championships.
Medals at the state meet
Hernandez, a top contender in the girls triple jump and long jump, could end up standing on the medal podium next to the athlete who finishes second in the overall standings. Both would receive a first-place medal.
A duplicate medal would be created to accomodate the two athletes.
Hernandez would receive a medal based on her finish in the overall standings while the other athletes will receive medals based on their finish in the standings excluding Hernandez’s results.
The CIF awards nine medals to the top boys and girls finishers in each event. (By contrast, other states create up to five divisions for each event to accomodate the athletes representing schools with a wide range of enrollments.)
Hernandez also is expected to contend for a medal in the high jump.
Also, as part of the rule changes, the CIF said in a statement that it would invite “any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark” to compete in the state 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 said in a statement. “The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.”
The CIF did not say how many athletes that could impact.
Trump’s post on social media
Although the CIF did not cite Trump, the rule changes took place hours after his social media post that in part read, “THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.”
Trump isn’t the only one who has sounded off on the matter. So has Hernandez.
“I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,’’ she told Capital & Main in a story published May 15.
Certain things remain unknown. Such as how many female athletes will be impacted by the new rules and whether they’ll be applied only in events in which Hernandez is competing.
The CIF did immediately respond to requests for information submitted by USA TODAY Sports.
In March, Newsom said on his podcast that it is “deeply unfair” to allow transgender girls and women to compete in women’s sports.
California law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, including at schools. State law also allows trans student athletes to compete on sports teams that align with their gender identity.
Last month Democratic state lawmakers blocked two bills that would have banned transgender athletes from girls sports.
