Transgender athlete AB Hernandez \u2014 California\u2019s most polarizing high school track athlete \u2014 was forced to share the 3rd place podium in Saturday\u2019s prestigious state championships after being outshone by female rivals.<\/p>\n
The 17-year-old, who is a biological male, was beaten several times amid fierce competition<\/a> from the girls during the California Interscholastic Federation\u2019s state final at Buchanan High School in Clovis.<\/p>\n Transgender high school athlete AB Hernandez finished in third place in the California Interscholastic Federation\u2019s state final on Saturday. Rafael Fontoura for CA Post<\/p>\n The Jurupa Valley High School senior<\/a> placed third in the long jump behind Eliie McCuskie-Hay and Gianna Gonzalez, who took joint first place.<\/p>\n During the medal ceremony, Hernandez shared the third-place podium alongside St. Mary\u2019s Berkeley jumper Corinne Jones. \u00a0<\/p>\n The CIF was forced to introduce special rules that awards the athlete who finishes directly below Hernandez to also win a medal. Rafael Fontoura for CA Post<\/p>\n However, Hernandez did manage to\u00a0come in first in\u00a0the high jump<\/a> and secured joint first place in the triple jump.\u00a0<\/p>\n The CIF was forced to introduce special rules last year after the transgender athlete regularly thrashed the competition \u2014 spurring public backlash from critics demanding\u00a0 Hernandez be banned from competing against women due to physical advantages.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Under the amended regulations, the girls who finished in the spot immediately below Hernandez would be awarded the same placing in an effort to ensure transgender athletes don\u2019t displace girls in the finals.\u00a0<\/p>\n In some of those earlier showdowns, authorities gave out two gold medals \u2013 one to Hernandez and another to the athlete who placed closest.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some of Hernandez\u2019s rivals previously engaged in silent protests by refusing to stand on the podium next to the athlete, while other girls kept their distance during the competitions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some of Hernandez\u2019s rivals previously engaged in silent protests by refusing to stand on the podium next to the athlete. Rafael Fontoura for CA Post<\/p>\n Hernandez\u2019s mother, Nereyda, 44, was spotted sitting in the bleachers and cheering on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n The transgender athlete has become one of the most controversial figures in high school sports, drawing national attention and fierce criticism from parents, competitors, and women\u2019s sports advocates who argue that biological males should not compete in girls\u2019 divisions.<\/p>\n During Saturday\u2019s competition, protesters wore shirts that said \u201cSave Girl\u2019s Sports,\u201d while others carried signs reading, \u201cNo boys. No bias. Just fairness.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n At one point, protesters clashed with pro-LGBTQ groups who were holding a press conference for Hernandez outside the high school.\u00a0<\/p>\n The transgender athlete has become one of the most controversial figures in high school sports. Rafael Fontoura for CA Post<\/p>\n Clovis police officers arrived to oversee the heated verbal dispute, which eventually dissipated without physical violence or direct police intervention,\u00a0Outkick reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n The weekend\u2019s competition also was the backdrop to gubernatorial candidates making their case to voters ahead of the June 2 primary.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hernandez did manage to come in first in the high jump and secured joint first place in the triple jump.\u00a0 Rafael Fontoura for CA Post<\/p>\n Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton held a press conference outside the stadium, criticizing CIF for allowing transgender athletes to compete.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Tom Steyer posted a video with Hernandez<\/a> ahead of Saturday\u2019s championship, applauding the athlete for competing and reaffirming his commitment to trans athletes. he applauded the athlete<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to hope like heck, that you don\u2019t just make state but you do really well there,\u201d Steyer said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t