Clara Adams of North Salinas High School in Salinas, Calif., crossed the finish line first in the junior girls’ 400m at the Central California State Championships—only to leave the meet empty-handed. After smashing her personal best by almost a full second, the 16-year-old ran over to her coach (who also happens to be her dad), grabbed a fire extinguisher and jokingly sprayed her spikes as if they were on fire.
The crowd loved it. Race officials did not.
CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) disqualified Adams for unsportsmanlike conduct, stripping her of the title in a decision that sparked some backlash online.
The celebration was a nod to American 100m sprinter (and 2000 Olympics 100m champion) Maurice Greene, who famously sprayed his shoes after running 9.86 seconds in his 2004 season opener. Adams and her father saw it as a fun tribute, not a show of disrespect. “When she blew the fire extinguisher, the opponents were gone,” her dad told Northern California’s KSBW. “She wasn’t harming anyone.”
It was the first disqualification for unsportsmanlike conduct at the Central California State Champs in more than a decade.
According to CIF’s code of conduct, athletes are expected to “be a good sport… show sincere respect… and be gracious in victory.” But some are questioning whether a celebratory moment, done away from competitors, really crossed the line.
Give Clara Adams her state title back @CIFState pic.twitter.com/vapbP2Ukge
— Wilson (@_Smoogee) June 1, 2025
Adams said officials disqualified her just moments before she was set to take the podium. “I’m disappointed and I feel robbed,” she told local news. “They yelled at me and told me, ‘We’re not letting you on the podium.’ They took my moment away from me.”
Because of the ruling, she was also barred from competing in the girls’ 200m later that day.
News of the disqualification even reached Greene himself, who said CIF officials should reconsider. “If it were away from everyone and not interfering with anyone, I would say reinstate her,” said the Olympic gold medalist.
