NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
A junior varsity cross-country meet was the scene of a budding dispute between two California high schools over the validity of trans athletes’ records in women’s sports.
During a league final last week, a so-called trans athlete from Claremont High School finished fourth in the girls’ JV competition. Meanwhile, an athlete from Ayala High School had to settle for 11th place, missing out on a spot on the podium.
Ayala’s cross-country coach, Caroline Cobo, told Pak Gazette Digital that she pushed for her athlete to be recognized.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
“During the awards ceremony we asked if when they called the 10 best, for each category, they could call the 11 best for the women’s JV race,” said Cobo. “But they said no, they couldn’t.”
So, Cobo and his team took matters into their own hands.
“So we decided to stand up during that awards ceremony and say, ‘Oh, and in 10th place,’ which, on paper, she was 11th, but in reality she was the 10th biological female to cross the finish line. We stood up and said that, and she went up,” Cobo said.
Ayala girls assistant coach Matthew Ullman said he was confronted afterward.
“As we stood up, a lot of eyes were on us, obviously. Afterwards we got some thanks from some parents and some athletes who said ‘thank you.’ But about five or six girls from the team where the transgender athlete competes came up to me, and [it was] quite confrontational,” Ullman told Pak Gazette Digital.
Ullman alleged that Claremont High School athletes told him, “‘Why did you have to say that? … You didn’t have to say biological woman,'” and claimed he responded, “Well, I needed to give credit where credit was due.”
“I feel like the Claremont team is a little fragmented, where some people are more for it and some people are more against it.”
INSIDE GAVIN NEWSOM’S TRANSGENDER VOLLEYBALL CRISIS
Claremont High School provided a statement to Pak Gazette Digital defending the recognition of only the top 10 finishers, which would include the school’s alleged trans athlete. The school cited California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) rules.
“Claremont High School is a member of the Palomares League, which includes six high schools that collectively follow CIF rules and regulations for athletic competition. Palomares League rules recognize only the top 10 finishers,” the statement said.
“Claremont High School adheres to the rules and regulations of the CIF and Palomares League. We remain committed to ensuring that all student-athletes are treated with respect and in accordance with agreed-upon procedures.”
However, Ayala High School responded to Pak Gazette Digital, recognizing its 11th-place finisher as rightfully deserving of top-10 recognition, citing an amendment to CIF rules that was instituted for girls athletics last spring. Ayala said he is requesting that his athlete be recognized.
“The Ayala administration is committed to recognizing the extraordinary hard work of its athletes and celebrating the dedication and commitment they invest in their athletic programs. Mr. John Kunishima, assistant director of athletics and facilities at Ayala High School, has asked the Palomares League to recognize the 11 high-performance athletes who competed in the league’s lower-level girls’ championship this past weekend after one of its female athletes was bumped in the standings by a transgender teammate,” a statement reads. from Ayala High School.
“Recognizing 11 athletes would be consistent with the California Interscholastic Federation – Southern Section (CIFSS) 2025 decision for female track and field competitors, whereby leadership concluded that a duplicate medal would also be awarded to the next closest athlete in the competition when a transgender student’s performance displaces a female athlete in the standings.
CALIFORNIA SPORTS LEAGUE MEETING SEES PARENTS CONFRONTED BY TRANS ATHLETES
“The Palomares League athletic directors will meet on November 18 to discuss recognizing the top 11 athletes from this weekend’s event and we are hopeful that an equitable solution will be achieved. By recognizing 11 outstanding athletes, the Palomares League will not only highlight its commitment to fairness and impartiality, but also its dedication to the students representing its competing schools.”
Pak Gazette Digital has contacted the CIF for comment.
The rule change referred to in Ayala’s statement was instituted during the girls’ track and field state finals last spring. The presence of Jurupa Valley trans athlete AB Hernandez sparked national scrutiny in the days leading up to the event, after President Donald Trump apparently drew attention to the situation in a Truth Social post, threatening to withhold federal funds from California if a trans athlete was allowed to compete in the women’s state finals.
The CIF changed its rule to include biologically female athletes who failed to qualify for the competition who could have placed higher if not for the participation of a trans athlete and that any female athlete who finished behind a biological male would move up one place on the podium.
After Hernández won first place in the women’s high jump and triple jump, and second place in the women’s long jump, the trans athlete had to share places on the podium with the athletes who finished one place lower.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the rule change at the time was “reasonable and respectful.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
“CIF’s proposed pilot is a reasonable and respectful way to address a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness – a model worth pursuing. The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach,” he said in a previous statement provided to Pak Gazette Digital.
But now, Ayala High School finds itself in the middle of a dispute simply over trying to get the same deal for the JV running back who finished a top-10 finish last week.
