People are outraged over a teenage “boy” who “crushed the girls’ triple jump record” at a high school competition, a victory that further fuels the fiery debate over transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
After shattering the competition at the Ontario Relays, AB Hernandez – a biological male – sparked debate over whether transgender athletes have an unfair advantage in girls’ sports, particularly in events that rely on strength and power.
Competing in the girls’ triple jump, the junior at Jurupa Valley High School in California didn’t just win – she annihilated the competition, leaping more than 40 feet (the length of an adult whale shark) and secured first place. Her winning jump was a staggering eight feet farther than the runner-up’s effort of 32 feet.
But the triple jump was just the beginning. Hernandez also swept the high jump (4 feet, 10 inches) and long jump (17 feet, 6 inches), cementing her status as a dominant force in high school track and field.
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And she didn’t stop there. At the Roosevelt Invitational in early March, she took home first place in both the triple and long jump events yet again. This time, Hernandez finished nearly three feet ahead of the second-place finisher in the triple jump and two feet ahead of the long jump runner-up.
But that’s not enough for the teenager, who has even bigger goals to meet: “Hopefully, I hit a 41 [footer] this year if it’s possible. Preferably at state so that I can possibly win,” she said in February after her 40-foot triple jump victory. “I just keep telling myself you are No.1 – it’s yours to lose.”
Unfair advantage
While Hernandez’s talent is undeniable, her victories have reignited the intense debate over transgender athletes in girls’ sports. Critics argue that biological differences give transgender athletes an unfair edge, particularly in strength-based events like jumping and sprinting.
Social media users were quick to react, with some expressing outrage over the results, accusing the teen of having an unfair advantage.
Kaitlynn Wheeler, a former competitive swimmer at the University of Kentucky and a fierce advocate against trans athletes in women’s sports, tweets, “OUTRAGEOUS. A BOY in CA just crushed the GIRLS’ triple jump record by 8 feet! AB Hernandez, a MALE, also won the long jump and sprint medley relay & is on his way to women’s state championship.
“After stealing these titles, he had the audacity to say: ‘I just keep telling myself, ‘You are number one.’” Wheeler, who argues that “women’s sports belong to women,” continues, “This isn’t fairness…It’s theft! We cannot stay silent.”
A second critic fumed, “Male high school track star who claims to be ‘transgender’ set the Division 3 Girls’ triple jump meet record in SoCal…How much longer do women and girls have to be insulted this way?”
“Unreal,” a third user posted on X. “AB Hernandez, a trans-identified boy, set the Division 3 Girls’ triple jump meet record at the Ontario Relays meet in SoCal…He also won the girls’ long jump and helped his team cinch the sprint medley relay win. He also says he’s hoping to win the [state championships] I think the odds are in his favor.”
“Wow, what an accomplishment. I’m sure it had nothing to do with being a biological male,” a fourth netizen shares on Facebook.
“AB Hernandez is the dude who just set a new record for the “girls” triple jump in CA….The boys triple jump standard for CIF [California Interscholastic Federation] in that event is over 45 feet,” shares another. The CIF explains the qualifying standards for the boys triple jump is 45 feet 10.5 inches, meaning Hernandez would fall short if she competed according to her assigned at birth gender.
The cyber fan adds, “Mediocre men killing it in women’s sports. Total loser.”
But the controversy isn’t just limited to social media. Nationwide, lawmakers continue to battle over transgender participation in girls’ sports, with arguments centered on fairness, inclusion, and the integrity of competition.
Hot debate
Hernandez’s wins come at a time when the political fight over transgender athletes in school sports is intensifying. Just days after her record-breaking performance, a federal bill aimed at banning transgender women and girls from competing in school athletics failed to advance in the U.S. Senate.
The proposed legislation, which sought to define Title IX protections based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth, fell short of the votes needed to move forward. The administration argue that allowing transgender women to compete in female sports undermines the original intent of Title IX by creating an uneven playing field.
Opponents – including LGBTQ+ advocates and civil rights organizations – say that it should be interpreted to protect transgender athletes’ rights.
With no blanket enforcement, Newsweek explains that it’s now up to individual states to decide whether they will follow Donald Trump’s directive when it comes to transgender athletes in high school sports. Some states are moving swiftly to implement bans, while others are standing firm in support of inclusion.
As the debate continues, so does Hernandez’s rise in high school track and field.
What do you think about allowing trans athletes competing in women’s sports? Is it fair the rights of biological women take a back seat to transgender rights?
Let us know what you think in the comments section below and then share this story so we can get the conversation going!
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