Clara Adams thought she was living her dream when she crossed the finish line first in the 400-meter final at the California state high school track and field championships.
The 16-year-old sophomore from North Salinas High School had just pulled off a major upset, and in the heat of the moment, she celebrated with a playful nod to a track legend, spraying her spikes with a fire extinguisher, just like Maurice Greene famously did back in 2004.
But her winning celebration didn’t last long. Meet officials called the act unsportsmanlike, disqualified her from the event, and stripped her of the state title. That decision not only wiped away her gold medal but also barred her from competing in the 200-meter race later that day.
Now, Clara and her father David, who also serves as her coach, are weighing legal action.
Legal Fight Looms As Emotions Run High
“This may cost her scholarships, NIL deals and other opportunities,” attorney Adante Pointer told PEOPLE. “Not to mention the emotional distress associated with the track meet officials physically grabbing and yelling at her.” He described CIF’s regulations as “byzantine and outdated,” and accused the organization of failing to follow its own rules in disqualifying Clara.
David Adams admitted he broke protocol by rushing onto the field, but said he did so out of concern when he saw an official grab his daughter. “As a father I was angry about how they physically grabbed and yelled at her,” he told PEOPLE. “She’s a kid, and they treated her like an adult and gave her the maximum punishment without any warning or explanation.”
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Clara said she and her dad came up with the idea for the fire extinguisher celebration after watching a clip of Greene’s iconic moment. They performed the celebration away from other athletes, off the track, and meant no disrespect. Greene himself weighed in this month, telling KSBW-TV, “If it was away from everyone and not interfering with anyone, I would say reinstate her.”
The California Interscholastic Federation hasn’t responded to requests for comment. But with the Adams family pushing back and a legal challenge on the table, the story of a teen who simply wanted to honor her win might not be over just yet.
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