California families of girl athletes speak out as state changes championship rules amid transgender drama

California girls' high school athletes reflect on their experience competing against a trans athlete in a postseason meet, as the state continues to defend its policies on gender eligibility.

EXCLUSIVE: The California high school track and field state championship is shaping up to be one of the most unprecedented high school sports events in recent history. 

Amid a national controversy involving a trans athlete competing in the girls' category, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced a series of sweeping rule changes in the days leading up to the event to accommodate female competitors. 

But now multiple families of girls who have already been displaced by a trans athlete at previous meets have spoken out against the federation, expressing dissatisfaction with the changes. 

On Tuesday, the CIF announced it would expand the size of the championship competition pool and inviting "biological female" athletes who missed out on making the title meet by one spot due to a trans athlete finishing ahead of them in last week's qualifying round. 

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AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High competes in the girls' high jump during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 Track and Field preliminaries at Nathan Shapell Memorial Stadium at Yorba Linda High School on May 10, 2025, in Yorba Linda, Calif. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)

Then on Wednesday, the federation announced it would also recognize female athletes on the medal podium if a girl who misses out on a medal finish does so because they came behind a trans athlete.

Crean Lutheran track and field star Reese Hogan finished in second place to trans athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High School in the triple jump at the