CLOVIS — About 10 people stood outside Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday afternoon, May 30, where the CIF State track and field prelims were slated to be held, protesting the participation of openly transgender athlete AB Hernandez.

The state finals will be held on Saturday, and Hernandez was expected to qualify.

Multiple demonstrations were held at CIF Southern Section postseason track meets leading up to the state meet regarding the participation of Hernandez, a Jurupa Valley student-athlete who qualified to compete in the girls long jump, triple jump and high jump at the state meet.

“I wouldn’t need to know a single thing about AB Hernandez other than the fact that AB Hernandez is male in a female competition,” Blake Nestell, a Clovis resident who is against the participation of trans athletes in girls sports, said Friday afternoon outside Veterans Stadium.

Nestell brought a sign that read “Your bravery wins when the game isn’t fair,” and was frustrated that signs and banners were not allowed inside the stadium for the event.

“I have a lot of women in my life who have played a sport and I asked a lot of them: What message would you want to see if you were out there? It’s a message to them.”

A plane with the message “No boys in girls sports!” also flew in circles around the stadium as Hernandez competed in high jump — her first event of the day — at 3 p.m. as the temperature reached 95 degrees.

President Donald Trump even weighed in on her participation earlier in the week, threatening to pull federal funding to the state of California if trans student-athletes are allowed to compete in girls events.

The CIF introduced a pilot entry program prior to the state meet that allowed an additional student to compete in the events that Hernandez is competing in.

Amaya Faison of Rosary Academy in Fullerton is one student-athlete who was allowed to compete in the triple jump as a result of the rule change.

“She has a twin sister who qualified in the long jump,” Rosary 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.”

A representative from the CIF confirmed that on-site security at Veterans Stadium was increased and a plan was in place to increase the scale and scope of that security if needed.

Six Clovis Police Department vehicles, in addition to two police motorcycles, were parked outside the stadium’s spectator entrance, and police officers were seen roaming the area both on foot and in vehicles.

Jurupa Unified School District and Jurupa Valley track and field did not respond to requests for comment before Friday’s CIF State prelims.

Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda, is declining interviews with the media at this time out of an abundance of caution, but issued a statement on Thursday that was shared to social media accounts including 50501 Movement and Pride at the Pier.

“As a mother, my heart breaks every time I see my child being attacked, not for a wrongdoing but simply for being who they are,” she said in the statement.

“My child is a transgender student-athlete, a hardworking, disciplined and passionate young person who just wants to play sports, continue to build friendships, and grow into their fullest potential like any other child.”

Additionally, 50501 Movement listed steps that supporters can take to show solidarity as opposed to protesting or rallying.

An Instagram post by the organization requested that those attending the meet should not bring pride flags and clothing but rather wear plain clothes and cheer for Hernandez as they would for any other student-athlete. The post also asked supporters not to engage with anti-trans protestors.

Hernandez has been competing for Jurupa Valley High School for the last three seasons in various events, but has the most experience and success in long jump, triple jump and high jump.

“It is not until recently that she has faced an onslaught of hatred, lies and harassment,” Nereyda said in the statement. “It is most heartbreaking that it is not her fellow competitors the ones attacking her. In fact, many of them. Have shown respect and sportsmanship.”

The jumper is also not the first openly transgender student-athlete to compete in high school sports.

Athena Ryan of Sonoma Academy and Lorelei Barrett of Buckley competed in both cross country and track and field last season but opted not to compete in the CIF State track meet.