High school female track star poses on first-place podium after finishing second to trans athlete: Real champ!
A California high school female athlete didn’t let coming in second to a male-born transgender competitor prevent her from standing in the top spot on the podium during placement at a state track and field meet.Reese Hogan, 16, was crowned second place in the triple jump at the CIF Southern Section Finals on Saturday — despite setting a new personal record for herself and the Crean Lutheran High School at 37 feet, 2 inches.Standing in first place, junior trans athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley, who won titles in the girls’ long jump and triple jump, posed with competitors to take pictures on the podium.However, as the athletes cleared off, Hogan seized the moment, walked on top of the first-place spot, smiled, and proudly posed for a picture.Her actions received praise from former NCAA swimmer and conservative influencer Riley Gaines, who dubbed Hogan the “real” champion of the triple jump.“When the boy got off the podium, she assumed her rightful spot as champion.The crowd erupts with applause,” Gaines posted on X.“THIS is the way.
Congrats to Reese Hogan, the REAL champ!!!”In another post, Gaines — who rose to fame after publicly criticizing her competitor, trans athlete Lia Thomas — also called out Hernandez for being a “fraud.”“The boy standing atop the podium holding up a ‘number 1’ is a fraud enabled by @CIFSS, @CA_Dem, & @CAgovernor,” she wrote on X.Hernandez defeated Hogan in the triple jump, beating her by over four feet, Sports Illustrated reported. Hogan was one of a number of high school girls’ athletes in California who protested at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 Prelims at Yorba Linda High School on May 10 by wearing “Protect Girls Sports” shirts, according to Fox News.The shirts were opposed by officials, who allegedly made Hogan and others remove them to compete in the postseason track meet.Female competitors told the outlet that officials at the meet told them to remove their shirts immediate...