Jaden Jefferson shatters California 100 mark; Transgender jumper advances 1st in 3 events: CIF State Track trials

De La Salle junior shocks crowd, but not himself while going 10.01 in trials of 105th track and field jewel, Freshman breaks state-meet hurdles mark; Amongst security, media AB Hernandez takes 6 jumps to move on 3 times

De La Salle junior Jaden Jefferson (left) on his way to a California (CIF) state 100-meters record in 10.01 seconds at Friday's 2025 state-meet trials in Clovis. / Photo by Eric Taylor

CLOVIS, Calif. —  Numbers, numbers, numbers.

They are, of course, what drives all track and field events, and athletes. Times, marks, personal records are at the center point.

Mix that in with personal drama, the journeys of people and coaches and families, and a game of numbers becomes much more compelling.

Especially at the finish line.

That's where roughly 1,500 student-athletes are sprinting and striving and why upwards of 10,000 fans will be on hand Friday and Saturday for the 105th California (CIF) State Track and Field Championships at Veteran's Memorial Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High School.

It is considered one of the crowning jewels of all Golden State high school sporting events.

• ENTRIES FOR ALL EVENTS | CIF Track and Field Championships

The top 9 in running and top 12 in field events from the trias advance to Saturday's finals which are scheduled at 4:30 p.m. (field) and 5:45 p.m. (running), all pending a heat index that likely will cause delays. Temperatures both days are expected to rise just above triple digits.

• CIF TRACK AND FIELD TRIALS | Complete results

Below are highlights from Friday's trials.

Jaden Jefferson breaks state 100 record

The De La Salle junior finished fourth at state last season at 10.40 seconds. He wanted to break that mark last week at the North Coast Section Meet of Championships, which he shattered ato 10.30, a NCS record.

On Friday, he wanted to go 10.20. Ha.

The compact, confident 5-foot-8, 175-pounder obliterated all expectations, crossing the line in a state-record 10.01 wind-legal time, blowing past the previous mark of 10.20 set by Rodrick Pleasant of Serra-Gardena in 2023.

"Perfect race," Jefferson said. "Past three weeks I've been working on my drive phase. The opening was smooth so everything felt great.

"Of course it's amazing to see (that time) but for some reason I wasn't srprised. I put the work in. Everything just came to me. It's a huge, huge accomplishment, but I'm not surprised at all."

Jefferson was also thrilled because of all the Southern California athletes he defeated. "I wanted to set an example for NorCal runners. We have runners too."

Two Southern California's smashed their PRs to finish second and third in the heat and Torrance's Nicholas Obimgba actually matched the previous state record at 10.20. Birmingham's Antrell Harris was third in the heat at 10.24, setting an LA City record in the process.

Jaden Jefferson's record-breaking time flashed at Buchanan High School Friday. / Photo courtesy Chris Jackson/West Coast Preps

Jefferson's time was the third fastest wind-legal team this season in the country.

'Insane" state-meet record from freshman Jasir Fontenot

San Diego High School freshman Jasir Fontenot broke the state-meet 110 high hurdles record at 13.31, breaking the mark of 13.33 set by Upland's Joseph Anderson in 2017.

Fontenot, whose senior sister Anisa is the defending 100 hurdles champion and qualified first by a wide margin at 13.22, was predictably thrilled with the result

San Diego High School freshman Jasir Fontenot shortly after breaking the state-meet record in the 110 high hurdles in 13.31 seconds. / Photo by Eric Taylor

"That time has been my goal all season — since I was an eighth grader — since I started the 110 hurdles I wanted the state-meet record," he said. "So to do it in my first race at state and breaking it is insane. The sky's the limit. I have three more years."

As far as the race itself, Fontenot said he got off to a solid start, but then by hurdle six (there are 10), "I put it in another gear. Overdrive. Afterburner."

Amongst the fire, AB Hernandez advances in three events

With temperatures hovering around 100 degrees, law enforcement and media were out in droves for opening of the field events, which was unusual for the early action.

That's because transgender athlete AB Hernandez was getting started. Despite mild protesters — one that was delivered via an airplane with the lettering "No boys in girls sports" — and the utter spotlight, Hernandez qualified first in all three events. It took six jumps to do it.

Transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley took one triple jump and qualified first in 40-9.75 at Friday's CIF State Championship trials / Photo by Eric Taylor

The Jurupa Valley senior needed just two long jumps to go a best 19 feet, 11.75 inches, well ahead of St. Ignatius senior Ellie McCuskey-Hay (19-5.50) and St. Mary's senior Kira Gant Hatcher (19-4). The rest of the field were all under 19 feet.

• CIF CLARIFIES PLANS | Transgender athlete AB Hernandez
• PRESIDENT TRUMP ORDERS | Transgender athlete AB Hernandez

Hernandez was the one five jumpers to clear 5-5, making attempts at 5-2, 5-3 and finally 5-5. About two hours later, Hernandez took one triple jump to go 40-9.75 to finish first ahead of Hatcher at 40-0.

The CIF announced Wednesday it will add an extra qualifier for all events Hernandez is entered. Additionally, whatever place Hernandez finishes a duplicate medal will be made for a "biological female student-athlete."

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that about a dozen protesters gathered outside of the stadium, one was arrested, and as many as three dozen more are expected Saturday.

More highlights

The warm conditions evidently aided a remarkable Friday night of trials. Among the other stars.

• In a remarkably fast girls 100 prelims, Vanden junior Naiaja Sizemore finished in a California season best of 11.33's, bettering St. Ignatius junior Ellie McCuskey-Hay, who won her heat in lifetime best of 11.43. Sizemore, who came back to take third overall in the 200, set a Sac-Joaquin Section record in the 100 in the wind-legal time.

"I'm typically a really bad starter, so my top end speed is just carrying me through racles," Sizemore told Chris Jackson of West Coast Preps. "I think I was like third or fourth of the blocks (Friday) but I was able to make it up when we got over there."

• Last year's double winner Mckay Madsen, of nearby Clovis North, was easily the top qualifier in the discus (206-11) and the shot put (67-5.75).

• One of the endless Servite freshmen, Jace Wells, broke the boys 200 freshman state record by qualifying sixth in 21.03. That's right, sixth!. Four ran 21.00 or faster, including St. Ignatius junior Prince Babalola-Buchango and Elk Grove's Cy Lugo, both at 20.88, Jefferson (20.99) and Jack Stadlman (21.00).

• If you did not run better than 1:52, you did not make the boys 800 finals as 12 runners beat that mark. Remarkable. That sets up one heck of a competitive final on Saturday. The leaders are Long Beach Wilson's Wyland Obando (1:50.67) and Jackson Hein, of Pleasant Valley, at 1:50.87, the latter breaking the Northern Section record.

• Sofia Lopes, a junior at Central East, broke the Central Section record in the 300 hurdles, going 41.47 which was remarkably only the fifth fastest trials mark of the day. Long Beach Wilson's Kaylin Edwards led the way at 40.28, followed by Morgan Herbst, of Carlsbad, at 40.68, Bowen-Fontenot (41.22) and Otay Ranch's Zamaria Mack (41.37).

More images from Eric Taylor

2025 CIF State Track and Field Championship image from Friday's trials / Photo by Eric Taylor

Close finish of 4x100 relay in 2025 CIF State Track and Field championship trials. / Photo by Eric Taylor

2025 CIF State Track and Field Championship image from Friday's trials / Photo by Eric Taylor

Montgomery senior and Stanford bound Hanne Thomsen at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championship image from Friday's trials / Photo by Eric Taylor

2025 CIF State Track and Field Championship image from Friday's trials / Photo by Eric Taylor

St. Mary's senior Kira Gant Hatcher qualified second in the triple jump at 40-0 / Photo by Eric Taylor

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