High School Girls Raise Allegations After Incident With Official At Track Meet

The latest chapter in the national debate over transgender athletes in girls' sports unfolded in full view at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 track and field preliminaries, where a biologically male trans athlete’s advancement to the state semifinals ignited both outrage and reflection. Amid the triple-digit heat and heightened police presence, student-athletes, parents, and community members converged not just to compete, but to protest what many see as the erosion of fairness in female athletics.

What began as a silent, student-led stand—athletes wearing “Protect Girls Sports” shirts—quickly became an incident of alleged suppression. Several girls reported to Fox News Digital that CIF officials approached them during the meet and insisted they remove their shirts immediately, without the opportunity to do so privately or under the guidance of their coaches. They were allegedly told—some said implied—that failure to comply could jeopardize their participation.

The CIF justified the enforcement by citing uniform requirements outlined in the Southern Section Playoff Bulletin. Yet athletes claim the rule was applied unevenly. Shirts bearing college logos and other non-uniform apparel were permitted, suggesting the real issue may have been the message, not the garment.

The result was an awkward contradiction: young women told they had to strip mid-field under adult supervision, not because of indecency or distraction, but because of a message many view as a simple call for competitive fairness.

At the heart of the controversy was a trans athlete from Jurupa Valley High School who competed in three field events—high jump, long jump, and triple jump. The athlete placed in the top nine in all three and won the triple jump, securing advancement to the state semifinals.

Three biological female athletes—those who finished 10th in each event—will not advance. To those girls, and many supporters, it isn’t just a disappointment. It’s a lost opportunity earned under different standards. “It just felt like the whole stadium was split,” said Olivia Viola. "Half was clapping, and half wasn’t."

What’s perhaps most striking is the tone of those protesting. The girls at the center of the dispute did not direct their frustration at the trans athlete. In fact, several of them—Lily Ingallinera, Julia Teven, and Reese Hogan—spoke kindly about the competitor. “He was very nice, very respectful,” Ingallinera said. "I think CIF has put him in an unfair position."

Teven agreed: “He’s just taking the opportunity presented to him. The issue is CIF.”

This nuance adds depth to a conversation that’s too often reduced to caricature. The protest wasn’t about exclusion, it was about standards—and whether those standards are being bent in ways that compromise the integrity of girls’ sports.

The CIF is already under federal investigation for potential Title IX violations. And as California continues to back trans inclusion policies, conflict between state-level decisions and national expectations is intensifying.

Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking to Charlie Kirk, acknowledged the tension. “I haven’t been able to figure it out,” he admitted when pressed on fairness. “There’s a humility and a grace needed... How can we make this fair?” It’s a rare moment of honesty on an issue that has otherwise seen lines drawn in concrete.