Latest news with #MontereyHerald
San Francisco Chronicle
12-06-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
California high school track star stripped of state title over post-race celebration
A 16-year-old athlete from North Salinas High School was disqualified from the California Interscholastic Federation State Championships in Clovis (Fresno County) on Saturday over a post-race celebration that officials deemed unsportsmanlike, stripping her of her state title in the 400-meter event. Clara Adams, a sophomore and heavy favorite in both the 400- and 200-meter races, had just clinched victory in the 400 final with a time of 53.24 seconds when she ran off the track to celebrate with her coach and father, David Adams, according to the Monterey Herald. In a tribute to Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene, Clara sprayed her shoes with a fire extinguisher — mimicking the celebration the sprinter popularized. Though the crowd and even the CIF broadcast booth appeared to cheer the moment, meet officials quickly disqualified Adams — barring her from the podium and disqualifying her from the rest of the meet, including the 200-meter final. 'I worked so hard for that title,' Adams told KSBW TV in Salinas. 'I'm disappointed and I feel robbed.' The CIF upheld the disqualification despite protests. 'When she blew the fire extinguisher, the opponents were gone,' her father told the outlet. 'That was our moment of celebration, and CIF officials made it about them.' The controversy caught Greene's attention. 'If it was away from everyone and not interfering with anyone, I would say reinstate her,' Greene told KSBW. In 20 years of state championships, no other disqualification for unsportsmanlike conduct has been recorded. Adams, the fastest 400-meter runner in California this season, left the meet without a medal.
Fox News
03-06-2025
- General
- Fox News
Ex-Olympic star Maurice Greene reacts after HS girl gets disqualified over fire extinguisher celebration
Former American track and field star Maurice Greene spoke out on Monday as California high school officials disqualified a rising sprint star for performing the celebration he made famous. Sophomore Clara Adams, of North Salinas High School, finished in second place in the 400 prelims and came off the starting line quickly in the 400 finals and ran her way to a first-place finish, or so she thought. Adams celebrated with her father after winning the race. She took a fire extinguisher from her father and sprayed her shoes with it, alluding to her being on fire, the Monterey Herald reported. Greene performed the fire extinguisher celebration after he won the 100-meter dash at the 2004 Home Depot Invitational. "When I heard, cause it happened, and then people just started calling me 'This girl who just ran the 400 did your celebration' I was like huh? What?" he told KSBW-TV on Monday. "If it was away from everyone and not interfering with anyone, I would say reinstate her," the former Olympian said. Adams' father, David, said the celebration was done away from any of her opponents. "I have video of it," he told the Monterey Herald. "She was on the other side of the wall. I told her to step off the track. She did not spray her shoes on the track. We have protested the decision. I feel it was racially motivated." He explained further to KSBW-TV. "When she blew the fire extinguisher, the opponents were gone," he told the station. "That was our moment of celebration, and CIF officials made it about them. The crowd went crazy, they loved it, the CIF booth went crazy, they loved it. But those few guys in those jackets took offense to it, didn't like it, and made a decision based off emotions." The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) upheld the decision to disqualify Clara Adams from the 400. She then learned she could not compete in the 200 either. Fox News Digital reached out to the CIF for comment. In the wake of the incident, a petition was circulated to reinstate Adams' win. It has received more than 1,700 signatures as of Tuesday morning. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
