CLOVIS, Calif. (AP) — California's high school track-and-field state championships kicked off Friday in the sweltering heat to a relatively quiet atmosphere despite controversy leading up to the meet over the participation of a transgender athlete.

The meet is the testing ground for a new participation and medaling policy for competitions that include transgender athletes.

The California Interscholastic Federation let an additional student compete and potentially offer an extra medal in three events in which a trans athlete is competing. The athlete, high school junior AB Hernandez, is the second seed in the triple jump and is also participating in the long jump and high jump.

A small protest of fewer than 10 people, including parents, gathered outside the stadium to oppose Hernandez's

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