Clara Adams, a 16-year-old high school student in North Salinas, California, is fighting back after being disqualified for a celebratory act.
Adams had just won the girls’ 400-meter race when the teen ran over to her father and grabbed a fire extinguisher. She then moved to a grassy area and sprayed her shoes in homage to former Olympian Maurice Green. Green did the same gesture in 2004 after winning the men’s 100-meter race in Carson, CA.
The teen’s father, David, who is also her coach, maintains that his daughter did not jeopardize anyone’s safety when she sprayed the fire extinguisher, and the crowd enjoyed the moment. California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) officials determined her celebration was “unsportsmanlike” and stripped the student of her state track title following the race.
Maurice Green spoke out after several people asked his opinion on the controversial incident. He responded by saying, “If it was away from everyone and not interfering with anyone, I say reinstate her.”
NAACP leaders and Adams’ attorneys, Pointer & Buelna LLP, are asking the CIF to reinstate the gold medal they say the teen was wrongfully stripped of. A press conference was held, and Clara was given the opportunity to tell her side of the story. She stated, “That was the first time I ever did something like that, and I did it because it was well deserved.” She went on to say, “During that race, I beat a USC commit and a Stanford commit.”
The Speaker of the California State Assembly has expressed support for the teen, along with members of the city council. They are urging the CIF director to reinstate the student as the true State
Champion in the 400-meter event.
After Adams’ disqualification, the gold medal was awarded to an Inglewood St. Mary’s Academy student.
