California track meet turns to political rally over trans athletes as schools speak out vs. state

California high school student-athletes Olivia Viola and Reese Hogan speak at a rally ahead of a major track and field event to oppose trans athletes in their sports. (Credit: Sophia Lorey of the California Family Council)

A girls' track meet in California was turned into a political rally on Saturday amid a growing controversy over a trans athlete who has dominated in the girls' high-jump, long-jump and triple-jump this season. 

The rally came less than two days after three of the state's esteemed Christian high schools sent a letter to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) challenging its longstanding policy that allows biological males in girls' sports. 

JSerra Catholic High School, Orange Lutheran High School and Crean Lutheran High School sent a joint letter to the CIF Thursday, referencing the trans athlete who competed in Saturday's state semifinal prelims. 

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"For young women, CIF’s Gender Identity Policy means lost opportunities and an unlevel playing field. The consequences of this Policy will be felt this weekend as CIF’s state semi-final competitions for track and field events take place. Star female athletes, some of whom attend our schools, will soon compete in multiple track and field events against a male athlete who self-identifies as a female," the letter read. 

"CIF’s Gender Identity Policy also fosters an environment that is increasingly hostile to religious member schools. CIF’s expectation that all faith-based schools facilitate the CIF Gender Identity Policy puts religious schools in the untenable position of adhering to the tenets of their faith in their classrooms and communities but practicing something contrary to their faith on