CLOVIS — The CIF State track and field meet is introducing two new rules related to the participation of transgender student-athletes, and at least one Southern California athlete has benefited from it.
Amaya Faison of Rosary Academy in Fullerton competed in the triple jump at the prelims on Friday as a result of the rule change.
“She has a twin sister who qualified in the long jump,” Rosary head coach Brandon Thomas said. “And so for them both to be able to come to state and be able to compete is a magical moment for her and her family.”
The CIF created a pilot entry process as a result of the participation of openly transgender Jurupa Valley student-athlete AB Hernandez, something that President Donald Trump has weighed in on.
Hernandez qualified to compete in the high jump, long jump and triple jump at the CIF State track and field championships, which is taking place on Friday and Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
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The CIF announced a change at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet — a qualifier for the state meet — that would allow more competitors to take part in the state meet.
“Biological female student-athletes who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section’s automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships,” the CIF said in a press release.
The same process applied to the state prelims on Friday, which had a total of 1,533 participants.
Faison jumped 37 feet, 5 inches in triple jump to place seventh at the Masters Meet and would not have qualified to join her sister, Jada, at the state meet unless the rule change occurred.
The jumper and her coach knew that she was headed for the state meet before the Masters Meet had concluded.
The accomplishment was a major breakthrough for Faison. Both sisters are accomplished soccer players and are Cal Berkeley commits, but track didn’t always come as easily to Amaya.
“She’s always been living in her sister’s shadow when it came to track and field,” Thomas said, “but now she’s starting to make her mark, too. With her emerging as one of the top jumpers in Southern California, it’s an amazing feat for her.”
The CIF also made a second rule change that will potentially award an extra medal in any event that Hernandez podiums in after the finals conclude on Saturday night.
“If necessary, in the high jump, triple jump and long jump events at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships,” the CIF said in its statement, “a biological female student-athlete who would have earned a specific placement on the podium will also be awarded the medal for that place and the results will be reflected in the recording of the event.”
Not everyone is pleased with the rule changes, including Blake Nestell, a protester from Fresno who is against trans athletes’ participation in girls and women’s sports. Nestell was one of roughly 10 protesters who rallied outside Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday during the prelims.
“This compromise has allowed the female competitors to compete against a male competitor again at a larger venue,” Nestell said. “You’ve changed the date. You haven’t changed anything about the nature of the competition.”
The CIF State track and field finals are slated for Saturday afternoon and evening. Field events will begin at 3:45 p.m.
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