Jurupa Valley senior AB Hernandez, a 17-year-old transgender athlete who qualified in three events, returned for the third consecutive year.
Just days after her high school graduation, she qualified in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump.
"It's a different feeling this year. Everything is more calm. We don't see many of the agitators yet," said Nereyda Hernandez, AB's mother.
On Friday, a group of individuals was seen outside Veterans Memorial Stadium protesting Hernandez's appearance at the championships.
RELATED: Controversy over transgender athletes returns to CIF championships in Clovis
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton returned to Clovis for a second year to debate the involvement of trans athletes. He was joined by a handful of Valley leaders, including Clovis Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pierce.
"I'm absolutely going to be there to protect people's rights, 100 percent but it can't be at the expense of other people's rights," said Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton.
"CIF continues to allow boys to compete against our girls," said Clovis Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pierce.
"That's not leadership. We're going to focus on people like Tom Steyer who are supportive of AB and all trans athletes," said Hernandez.
The CIF continued with a rule put in place last year known as the Pilot Entry Program. According to the nonprofit organization, the policy allows any student-athlete assigned female at birth who would have qualified for automatic entry but was displaced due to the participation of a transgender student-athlete to still compete in the CIF State Championships.
"Yes, at least they didn't take that away," said Hernandez.
Hernandez said she will continue to root for her daughter in the face of hateful rhetoric.
"That's all I'm doing is being supportive, being my baby's cheerleader and just making sure she knows I'm here and she's safe," said Hernandez.
The CIF State Track and Field Championships end on Saturday, May 30.
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