It was supposed to be just another high school track meet in sunny California.
The athletes had trained for months, eager to put their hard work to the test. But when a teenage girl, Reese Hogan, quietly climbed to the top of the podium—one she hadn’t earned through performance, at least not officially—the sports world exploded.
What initially seemed like a small, personal protest spiraled into a firestorm of national controversy. Was Reese’s act of defiance a stand for fairness, or was it a disrespectful undermining of a fellow athlete’s hard-won victory?
In a matter of moments, the simple act of stepping onto an empty top spot had become a lightning rod for a much larger, deeply divisive conversation.
Nationwide Outcry Following Podium Protest at California Track Meet
The CIF Southern Section Finals in California have now become ground zero in the ongoing debate about transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. Reese Hogan, a Crean Lutheran High School student, finished second in the girls’ triple jump, but after transgender athlete AB Hernandez claimed the first-place spot, Hogan took matters into her own hands. As Hernandez, who identifies as female but was assigned male at birth, left the podium area, Hogan stepped into the vacant top spot. What followed was a social media frenzy, sparking discussions on fairness, inclusion, and the future of women’s athletics.
Hernandez, who had jumped 41 feet 4 inches to win the event, had clearly outperformed Hogan by a significant margin—over four feet. However, it was the empty podium that Hogan chose to occupy, a move that seemed more symbolic than competitive, yet resonated across the country.
The scene quickly went viral, with opinions flooding in from every corner of the internet. Some supporters hailed Hogan’s actions as a powerful stand for the integrity of women’s sports, while others condemned it as an offensive challenge to the values of inclusion and equal opportunity.
The issue at hand taps into deeper cultural and political fault lines. Those who oppose transgender women competing in women’s sports argue that the physical advantages of male athletes—such as bone density, muscle mass, and height—are unfair and compromise the spirit of fair competition. Supporters of transgender inclusion, on the other hand, emphasize human rights, the importance of self-identity, and the desire for equal treatment in all arenas, including sports.
Adding fuel to the fire, former President Donald Trump had recently signed an executive order barring transgender women from competing in female-only sports at the national level. His administration justified the move by claiming it was necessary to preserve the fairness of women’s athletics ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The announcement sparked protests, with many viewing it as an attack on the civil rights of transgender individuals.
Congratulations to Reese Hogan, the real champion in yesterday’s triple jump at CIF Southern Section Finals.👏🏼
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 18, 2025
She set a new PR and school record.
The boy standing atop the podium holding up a ‘number 1’ is a fraud enabled by @CIFSS, @CA_Dem, & @CAgovernor. pic.twitter.com/xkhLgl1q2s
Despite the political climate, not all states are following suit. Maine, for example, continues to support the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, standing firm on the principle of equality and access.
The California controversy brought these issues to the forefront once again. Jennifer Sey, founder of the women’s advocacy group XX-XY, posted on social media:
“A male athlete just won the girls’ triple jump. Over 8 feet ahead of his competition. Isn’t this progress?” This was met with intense responses from both sides of the debate. Some hailed her post as a brave statement about the erosion of fair competition, while others accused her of perpetuating harmful stereotypes and divisiveness.
One viral comment referred to Reese Hogan as “the real winner,” while others decried the situation as “madness” and called for a reversal of policies that allowed transgender women to compete in women’s sports.
This guy won the girls long jump and triple jump in a CA track meet over the weekend.
— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) March 3, 2025
He won the triple jump by 8ft. He’s really crushing it!
It’s the giggly “feminine” affectations that make him a girl, right? 😡
pic.twitter.com/bGDyHZUZbR
Tensions escalated with the mention of the tragic 2022 incident in North Carolina, where a transgender athlete’s spike in a volleyball game resulted in a severe injury to Payton McNabb, a 17-year-old player. That incident led to North Carolina instituting a statewide ban on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, adding another layer of controversy to the ongoing conversation.
Yet, Hernandez’s response was calm and resolute. In a recent interview, she brushed off the backlash, dismissing the critiques as “ridiculous.” “You’re an adult and I’m just a kid,” Hernandez said, addressing her detractors. “Your reaction says more about you than my performance ever could.”
Hernandez, who has faced discrimination in the past, pointed out that her victories weren’t always guaranteed—she too had experienced moments of struggle where she didn’t even make it to the podium.
Research cited by Capital & Main, a leading nonprofit journalism outlet, has also cast doubt on the notion that transgender women consistently outperform cisgender women in sports. In fact, some studies suggest that transgender athletes might face their own disadvantages in competition due to hormone therapy and other factors.
Despite these findings, the firestorm of criticism only grew. At the heart of the debate is a deep division over the nature of fair competition. Critics of transgender inclusion argue that policies allowing transgender women to compete in female events effectively diminish the achievements of cisgender women. Others, however, insist that sports should be a space for everyone, where inclusion and human rights take precedence over the physical characteristics of the participants.
The issue remains contentious, with ongoing state and federal legislative efforts aimed at either restricting or expanding transgender participation in sports. A growing number of Olympians, including over 400 current and former athletes, have rallied against exclusionary policies, urging the NCAA to reject efforts to ban transgender athletes.
These athletes argue that inclusivity is the path forward, warning that history will judge society’s treatment of transgender individuals.
Reese Hogan’s protest has now become a defining moment in the debate, an unspoken challenge that continues to ripple through social media and public discourse. While Hernandez followed all current guidelines, Hogan’s quiet stand has drawn a line in the sand, dividing opinions in a way few could have anticipated.
Conclusion:
The California high school track meet, with its small but profound protest, has ignited a nationwide debate that extends far beyond the realm of sports. Reese Hogan’s protest wasn’t just about a high school track meet—it became a symbol in the larger, increasingly polarized battle over transgender rights and the future of women’s athletics. Supporters of inclusion argue that diversity and fairness should go hand in hand, while critics assert that the very nature of women’s sports is being undermined.
The debate continues to rage, with no clear resolution in sight. Hogan’s quiet act of defiance on the podium was more than a personal statement—it became a flashpoint, highlighting the deepening rift between inclusion and fairness in the world of competitive sports. As this issue intensifies, it’s clear that what started on a high school track field has become a cultural war that will shape the future of athletics for years to come.