In a performance that has ignited both celebration and controversy, AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete, set the Division 3 Girls’ triple jump meet record at the Ontario Relays in Southern California. With an astonishing 40-foot jump—eight feet beyond the second-place finisher—Hernandez has become the focal point of an ongoing debate surrounding transgender participation in female athletics.
A Day of Dominance on the Track
Hernandez’s exceptional showing extended beyond just the triple jump. The junior athlete also secured victories in the long jump and the Sprint Medley Relay (SMR), demonstrating impressive versatility and dominance across multiple events. Reflecting on the performance, Hernandez expressed a mix of excitement and nerves.
“I think I was really nervous. I was like, oh, my God, I was so nervous. Like, just jump good, please,” Hernandez admitted. “After coming off of the big win at Arcadia, I was like, you can’t just go at it over. You have to do good.”
Hernandez’s ambitions remain high, aiming for even greater achievements in upcoming competitions: “Expectations are just to keep my phases longer, push more, work out more, get further, hopefully hit a 41 this year if it’s possible, preferably at state so that I can possibly win.”
Training and Preparation
Hernandez credits rigorous training for recent success: “Training’s been pretty hard, light days. In the beginning of the week, it’s pretty hard, and then we get lighter as the day goes on to prepare for the meet.”
This structured approach appears to be paying off, as Hernandez continues to push boundaries in girls’ track and field.
Public Reaction and Growing Debate
Not everyone is celebrating Hernandez’s record-breaking performance. The results have sparked widespread debate, particularly among female athletes, parents, and advocates who believe transgender participation in girls’ sports creates an unfair playing field.
Sports commentator Beth Bourne highlighted the issue in a viral post:
“UNREAL. On Saturday, AB Hernandez, a trans-identified boy, set the Division 3 Girls’ triple jump meet record at the Ontario Relays meet in SoCal with a 40-foot triple jump, a full 8 feet longer than 2nd place (32’-03”).”
Critics argue that Hernandez’s performance highlights biological advantages that males possess in sports, particularly in events requiring explosive power, speed, and strength. The discussion intensified as social media users weighed in:
“That’s almost 2ft longer than the Calif HS girls Triple Jump record of 38′ 3.75″ set in 2013,” one user pointed out.
Others voiced frustration with the current policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in female divisions:
“Peak at the right time… by being born male at a time when a male claiming to be female is supported and celebrated in usurping female sports.”
CNN Poll Shows Overwhelming Opposition to Trans Athletes in Women’s Sports
The controversy surrounding transgender participation in women’s sports is not isolated to track and field. A recent CNN poll revealed that 79% of Americans oppose allowing transgender female athletes to compete in women’s sports, with only 18% expressing support. This represents a significant shift in public opinion, as opposition has increased from 62% in 2021 to 79% in 2025.
Perhaps most striking is the bipartisan nature of the opposition. The poll found that 67% of Democrats, 64% of independents, and 94% of Republicans stand against transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
“You rarely get 79 percent of the country to agree on anything,” CNN’s senior political analyst Harry Enten remarked. “You rarely get 67 percent of Democrats and 94 percent of Republicans to agree on anything. But they do on this particular issue.”
Legislative and Policy Implications
In response to growing opposition, several states have introduced or enacted legislation restricting transgender participation in female sports. Additionally, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order granting federal agencies the power to enforce Title IX protections based on biological sex, impacting schools that receive federal funding.
The order enables the Department of Education to penalize schools that allow transgender athletes to compete in female divisions, potentially making them ineligible for federal funding.
