California Track Meet Sparks Debate After Student Steps onto Podium in Silent Protest
A high school track and field event in California has reignited national discussion around transgender participation in women’s sports. At the CIF Southern Section Finals, a moment of silent protest drew widespread attention when Reese Hogan, a student-athlete from Crean Lutheran High School, stepped onto the top podium spot—despite officially placing second in the triple jump.
Hogan finished behind AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete who identifies as female and delivered a jump over four feet longer than Hogan’s.
Hernandez also secured victories in the long jump and placed in the high jump event.
When the boy got off the podium, she assumed her rightful spot as champion. The crowd erupts with applause.
THIS is the way.
Congrats to Reese Hogan, the REAL champ!!! https://t.co/KiEm2yV2YY pic.twitter.com/hqGdikES29
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 18, 2025
After Hernandez exited the awards podium, Hogan stood on the first-place step in a symbolic gesture that quickly circulated on social media.
The moment has since sparked intense debate online, reflecting the broader national divide over transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.
Former President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order seeking to ban transgender women from competing in female sports categories.
However, states such as Maine have chosen not to enforce similar restrictions, highlighting a growing legal and ethical divide.
Supporters of Hernandez argue that athletic eligibility should be governed by inclusive and medically informed policies, not political ideology.
Meanwhile, critics claim that transgender athletes may have a physical edge, especially in strength- and speed-based competitions.
This guy won the girls long jump and triple jump in a CA track meet over the weekend.
He won the triple jump by 8ft. He’s really crushing it!
It’s the giggly “feminine” affectations that make him a girl, right? 😡
— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) March 3, 2025
In response to the controversy, Hernandez described the backlash as “ridiculous” and affirmed her right to compete under the current regulations.
While some studies show varying results on whether transgender athletes consistently outperform cisgender competitors, the broader debate continues to stir emotions and divide public opinion.
Reese Hogan’s quiet podium protest has now become part of a much larger national conversation—one that touches on fairness, identity, and the evolving landscape of youth sports in America.
