US Edition
California Track Star, Disqualified for Fire Extinguisher Celebration, Hoping to Compete at Nationals
- Sixteen-Year-Old Clara Adams, a North Salinas High track star, was disqualified and stripped of her 400-meter state title on May 31, 2025, in Clovis, California.
- The disqualification followed her celebration of spraying fire extinguisher foam on her cleats, which CIF officials ruled as unsportsmanlike conduct despite the act being a tribute to 2004 Olympian Maurice Greene.
- Adams performed the fastest 400-meter time in the state at 53.24 seconds, and despite being removed from the meet, her family and community strongly contest the punishment and claim racial bias.
- Civil rights lawyers and bipartisan political leaders have demanded CIF reinstate Adams' title while she prepares to compete June 19–22 at the U20 national championships, with her story gaining broad media and institutional support.
- This controversy has raised questions about CIF's regulations and response, leading to widespread community backing for Adams and ongoing calls for policy review and equitable treatment of athletes.
17 Articles
17 Articles
East Bay Times
The Mercury newsWhy California runner’s disqualification at state championships touched a national nerve
From Dr. Harry Edwards to longtime track experts, everyone has an opinion about North Salinas runner getting disqualified for fire-extinguisher celebration after winning 400 at recent state high school championships.
California track star, disqualified for fire extinguisher celebration, hoping to compete at nationals
Clara Adams, the 16-year-old Salinas high school track star disqualified for spraying a fire extinguisher on her shoes after her state championship win, is hoping to compete again this month at a national championship event.
Black Salinas Track Star's Disqualification at State Finals Triggers Legal Pushback
Civil rights leaders and elected officials are demanding the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) reinstate a gold medal stripped from 16-year-old Salinas sprinter Clara Adams who celebrated her win by spraying her cleats with a fire extinguisher in tribute to Olympian Maurice Greene.As reported by KTVU, Adams was disqualified from the competition for celebrating her 400-meter state championship victory by briefly spraying her cleats with…
Making up the rules after the fact - Nashville PRIDE, Inc.
High school track star Clara Adams was stripped of her state title after celebrating her win with a harmless tribute to Maurice Greene. The decision sparked outrage and questions of fairness and justice. The post Making up the rules after the fact appeared first on Nashville PRIDE, Inc..
Family threatens legal action after track star is disqualified over celebration paying homage to Olympian - Everett Post
(SALINAS, Calif.) — The family of a 16-year-old track star is threatening to take legal action after the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) disqualified their daughter and stripped her of her gold medal after she celebrated her win in the state final by spraying her feet with a fire extinguisher – an homage to Olympic champion Maurice Green. Clara Adams, a North Salinas High School sophomore, said that CIF officials told her that she wa…
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