Castle’s Katy Beer celebrates jumping 17 feet 2 inches in long jump during the 2025 IHSAA Girls Track and Field Sectional at Mt. Vernon High School Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Sacramento, California – The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which oversees high school sports in the state, announced a rule change Tuesday that will allow more girls to compete at this weekend’s state track-and-field championships. The adjustment follows public outcry over the participation of a transgender student-athlete and a social media post from former President Donald Trump.
Under the new “pilot entry process,” additional girls — described in the CIF’s statement as “biological female” athletes — who narrowly missed automatic qualification for the championship meet will now be eligible to compete.
“The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes,” the federation said.
Though the CIF did not name any specific athlete, the announcement came hours after Trump threatened to cut federal funding to California unless the state barred trans girls from competing in girls’ sports. Trump’s comments, posted on Truth Social, criticized the inclusion of AB Hernandez, a transgender student-athlete from Southern California, who qualified for three girls’ events at the state finals.
“THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,” Trump wrote.
Hernandez, who won two events at the Southern Section Division Finals earlier this month, has been at the center of intensifying national debate over the participation of transgender athletes in youth sports. Her inclusion has drawn protests, media attention, and repeated heckling at recent meets.
In response to the controversy, CIF’s change appears to be a rare move by a state athletic body to expand rather than restrict participation amid broader political pressure. The organization did not clarify whether the policy would apply to all events or just those in which a trans athlete has qualified.
California is among the minority of states that continue to allow transgender girls to compete on girls’ teams. At least 24 states have enacted laws barring such participation, many of which have been struck down in court.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office praised the CIF decision as a “reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness.” In contrast, conservative commentators labeled the change “damage control,” arguing it doesn’t go far enough.
Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups condemned what they called political attacks on a student-athlete. “Our community is watching,” said Equality California in a statement urging CIF to uphold its inclusive policies and protect all athletes.
As debate continues, Hernandez remains focused. “There’s nothing I can do about people’s actions,” she said in a recent interview. “I’m still a child… and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person.”
