CLOVIS — Jurupa Valley senior AB Hernandez placed third in the long jump at the 2024 CIF State Track and Field Championships in Clovis, California, on Saturday, jumping 20 feet 2¼ inches. This marked her second consecutive medal in the event under the California Interscholastic Federation’s transgender participation policy.

Ellie McCuskey-Hay of St. Ignatius and Gianna Gonzalez of Moorpark tied for first with marks of 20 feet 3½ inches. Hernandez shared the third-place podium with Corrine Jones of St. Mary’s Berkeley, who jumped 19 feet 9½ inches. Under CIF policy, transgender athletes who place at the state championships receive medals but do not displace cisgender girls in the final standings.

Hernandez, 17, secured her spot in Saturday’s finals on her opening qualifying attempt Friday and passed on her remaining two jumps. She arrived at the state meet after sweeping the high jump, long jump, and triple jump at the Southern Section championships and was scheduled to compete in the other two events later Saturday.

The atmosphere at the championships was calmer than in 2023, when demonstrations over Hernandez’s participation drew national attention. Event organizers prohibited signs inside Veterans Memorial Stadium, though protests occurred outside. On Friday, Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton held a news conference near the venue, criticizing CIF’s policy on transgender athletes and noting the state primary election was four days away.

"I'm absolutely going to be there to protect people's rights, 100 percent but it can't be at the expense of other people's rights," Hilton said. In contrast, the Rainbow Families Action group held a supportive news conference Saturday outside the stadium, where counter-protesters briefly shouted at attendees before both groups dispersed.

"It's a different feeling this year. Everything is more calm. We don't see many of the agitators yet," said Nereyda Hernandez, AB’s mother. AB Hernandez, who qualified for the state meet just days after her high school graduation, said she was focusing on allies like those supporting her. "That's all I'm doing is being supportive, being my baby's cheerleader and just making sure she knows I'm here and she's safe," Nereyda Hernandez said. AB Hernandez added, "Yes, at least they didn't take that away."