A California high school female athlete didn’t let finishing second to a transgender competitor stop her from proudly standing on the top spot of the podium at a state track and field meet.
Reese Hogan, 16, earned second place in the triple jump at the CIF Southern Section Finals on Saturday, setting a new personal best of 37 feet, 2 inches for herself and Crean Lutheran High School.
First place went to junior trans athlete AB Hernandez from Jurupa Valley, who also claimed titles in the girls’ long jump and triple jump, posing with fellow competitors for photos on the podium.
After the athletes stepped away, Hogan took the opportunity to walk onto the first-place spot, smiled, and confidently posed for a photo.
Her gesture earned praise from former NCAA swimmer and conservative influencer Riley Gaines, who called Hogan the “real” champion of the triple jump.
“When the boy stepped off the podium, she took her rightful place as champion. The crowd erupted in applause,” Gaines wrote on X.
“THIS is the way. Congrats to Reese Hogan, the REAL champ!!!”
In a separate post, Gaines — known for her criticism of trans athlete Lia Thomas — also accused Hernandez of being a “fraud.”
“The boy standing on the top of the podium holding up a ‘number 1’ is a fraud enabled by @CIFSS, @CA_Dem, & @CAgovernor,” she posted on X.
Hernandez won the triple jump, surpassing Hogan by more than four feet, according to Sports Illustrated.
Hogan was among several California high school girls who protested at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 Prelims on May 10 at Yorba Linda High School by wearing “Protect Girls Sports” shirts, Fox News reported.
Officials reportedly opposed the shirts and required Hogan and others to remove them in order to compete in the postseason track meet.
Junior trans athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley (center), who claimed victories in the girls’ long jump and triple jump, posed with fellow competitors for photos on the podium.
The high school female athletes claimed that officials forced them to remove their shirts immediately, under supervision, without allowing any extra time or the chance to do so elsewhere.
Hogan said officials made her and others feel they risked disqualification if they didn’t take off the shirts.
“It wasn’t directly stated, but it was implied that if I didn’t remove my shirt right then and there, something could happen to my spot,” Hogan explained.
“As the day went on, the enforcement became stricter and the tone more hostile. They never explicitly mentioned disqualification, but their tone and manner suggested it was a possibility.”
The CIF confirmed the incidents and noted that the athletes were wearing their official school uniforms beneath the shirts.
“According to the CIF Southern Section Playoff Bulletin, all athletes must wear proper school-issued track uniforms,” the CIF told Fox News in a statement.
“The student-athletes were asked to comply while in the on-field event area because they were wearing shirts over their official uniforms.”
However, witnesses at the event claimed that officials did not issue the same orders to athletes wearing other non-school shirts without the “Protect Girls Sports” message.
There were no reports of Hogan or other athletes wearing the shirts at the CIF Southern Section Finals on Saturday.
Hernandez, who currently holds the state’s best marks in both the long jump and triple jump, has now qualified for the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet scheduled for May 24.
