AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old student from Jurupa Valley High School in Southern California, made headlines after winning both the girls’ long jump and triple jump at a major track and field meet held by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section.
She secured a place in the upcoming state championships on May 30–31. Hernandez also competed in the high jump, where she placed fourth, just missing the cutoff for qualification in that event.
AB is a 16-year-old transgender athlete and has identified as female since the eighth grade, according to her mother.
Her success sparked political attention when former President Donald Trump criticized her participation and called for California to lose federal funding unless officials step in to prevent her from competing further.
Trump also made incorrect claims about her past participation on a boys’ team, which official records have not supported.
Mother, Nereyda, Defends Her Daughter Amid Backlash Over Transgender Athlete’s Participation In Girls’ Sports
Her mother, Nereyda Hernandez, has been supportive of her since she came out as transgender in eighth grade.
Nereyda has said that sports have been a positive outlet for AB, especially during tough times, like when Nereyda lost both of her parents to COVID-19 in 2021.
Some people have criticized AB’s participation in girls’ sports, and this has caused stress for her family.
This is the mother of AB Hernandez. AB Hernandez is the male athlete who participated in female sports at the Yorba Linda High School CIF preliminaries track meet this weekend.
Leandra Blades
The male athlete’s mother approached Sonja Shaw who was supporting our female athletes. As you can see, Placentia-Yorba Linda Board member Carrie Buck is with the male athlete’s mother showing support to the male athlete and his mother along with members of the Lavender democrats and Pride at the Pier. These groups also came and advocated for men to compete in women’s sports at the PYLUSD board meetings.
At the May 6, 2025 board meeting, we watched as Carrie Buck, Marilyn Anderson and Tricia Quintero advocated to defy Title lX and federal law and voted to deny a resolution to keep men out of women’s sports. Simply put, they support men in women’s sports.
Myself and Todd Frazier voted to protect female athletes and will continue to do all we can to protect the rights and safety of our female athletes.
In one viral video, another parent confronted Nereyda at a meet, accusing her of being wrong for allowing AB to compete.
Even, Riley Gaines, a former college swimmer and conservative activist, was among those who reacted to a recent video showing one of AB Hernandez’s competitors standing in first place on the podium.
Gaines commented on the moment, supporting the idea that the other athlete deserved the top spot.
Nereyda responded by saying people should leave her daughter alone and called the harassment “child abuse.”
Nereyda has raised AB mostly on her own.
She became a widow in her early 20s, and there’s no public information about AB’s father being involved.
The family has lived in Jurupa Valley, a primarily Latino community, for nearly 30 years.
AB is the youngest of four girls and grew up in a home where they regularly attend the Catholic church.
Even though there has been backlash, many in the local community have supported AB.
Leaders like Jurupa Valley City Council member Armando Carmona have spoken out, saying neighbors should support one another and follow the rules that allow transgender students to participate in sports.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- In a recent interview with Capital & Main, AB Hernandez said she tries to focus on herself rather than worry about how others act or what they say.
- She pointed out that she’s still a teenager and finds it unfair when adults behave in hurtful or immature ways toward her.
