Runner-up track star takes ‘rightful place’ on podium after losing to trans jumper
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A track and field star who set a new personal record for herself and her high school took the top spot on the podium after being crowned runner-up to her transgender competitor.
Reese Hogan, 16, placed second in the triple jump event at the CIF Southern Section Finals in California on Saturday.
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Runner-up track star takes ‘rightful place’ on podium after losing to trans jumper Back to video
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Her jump of 37 feet, two inches was a personal best and also set a record for Crean Lutheran High School.
But it wasn’t enough to best trans athlete AB Hernandez ,of Jurupa Valley High School, who boasted a jump of 41 feet, four inches — more than four feet longer than Hogan’s.
Hernandez, who also took the top spot in the girls’ long jump, posed with her competitors on the podium.
But once all the athletes stepped off, Hogan sauntered up to the middle of the podium and smiled away.
Riley Gaines, a women’s sports advocate and former NCAA swimmer, applauded Logan for her actions.
“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,” she continued. “Congrats to Reese Hogan, the REAL champ!!!”
In another post, Gaines — who became a staunch activist after publicly criticizing her competitor, trans athlete Lia Thomas — branded Hernandez a “fraud.”
“The boy standing atop the podium holding up a ‘number 1’ is a fraud enabled by @CIFSS, @CA_Dem, & @CAgovernor,” she wrote.
Hernandez has been open about the backlash faced at track and field events.
The athlete showed her dominance last month after winning the girls’ triple jump at an event by more than two metres.
At a meet earlier this month, Hernandez placed first in triple jump, eighth in high jump and third in long jump.
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“All I thought was, ‘I don’t think you understand that this puts your idiotic claims to trash. She can’t be beat because she’s biologically male,’” Hernandez mocked haters in an interview with Capital & Main.
“Now you have no proof that I can’t be beat.”
At this past weekend’s meet, Hernandez’s winning long jump was 19 feet, 2.75 inches, edging out second-place finisher Katie McGuinness, of La Canada, whose jump was a close 18 feet, 9.5 inches.
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