The California Interscholastic Federation may be fine with biological boys competing in girls’ sports based on gender identity, but not with girls who celebrate their wins with a bit too much vigor.
Clara Adams, a sophomore at North Salinas High School, was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct last weekend for using a hand-held fire extinguisher to spray her shoes after her victory in the 400-meter race at the CIF track-and-field championships in Clovis.
Her father handed her the fire extinguisher from the stands. She waited until the rest of the field had finished, taking her celebration off the track and onto the grass, but she was nonetheless stripped of her title and barred from competing in the 200-meter race.
“The crowd went crazy. They loved it. The CIF [announcers’] booth went crazy. They loved it,” said David Adams, the girl’s father, at a Wednesday press conference. “But those few guys in those jackets, they took offense to it, didn’t like it, and they made a decision on emotions.”
I am sobbing, sad, & angry for #ClaraAdams.
— Dana Ritenour (@Revel8Nation) June 4, 2025
At a minimum, @CIFState & the officials involved need to publicly apologize to Miss Adams, her father, & her team & school.
That’s just for starters.
Next, fire all those who are allowing men to take over women’s sports. https://t.co/detFoaI6Wi
Whether she violated the rules on post-victory celebrations has been a topic of debate. The tough punishment came as a particularly bad look for the federation, given that it happened the same day that transgender athlete A.B. Hernandez won two gold medals and a silver in girls’ jumping events.
“They celebrated A.B. Hernandez on the podium, and Clara was disqualified for having a celebration. We’re lost on that right now,” David Adams, who also coaches his daughter, said on Fox News Channel. “Do I got to worry about an A.B. Hernandez jumping into the 400-meter next year?”
Public opinion appears to be in Clara’s corner. Organizations ranging from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to the Monterey County Republican Party have called for CIF to reinstate her title.
“Clara Adams, a talented student-athlete from Salinas, has demonstrated exceptional skill and commitment, securing a well-deserved victory in her track event,” said the Monterey GOP in a statement. “Yet the CIF, which allows males to compete against these young women, decided wrongly to strip her of her award.”
The firm of Oakland civil rights attorney Adante Pointer is now representing the family, according to KTVU-TV.
The celebration was intended to recreate U.S. sprinter Maurice Greene’s fire-extinguisher moment, which saw a man run onto the track and spray the runner’s shoes after his victory in the 100-meter dash at the 2004 Home Depot Invitational.
Greene, who said he received a number of calls after news broke about the CIF celebration, was also in Adams’ corner.
“If it was away from everyone and not interfering with anyone, I would say reinstate her,” he told KSBW-TV.
The Washington Times has reached out to the federation for comment.
Under California law, students must be permitted to participate in activities including sports based on gender identity.
President Trump criticized the state last week for allowing a male-born athlete to compete in girls’ sports, after which the federation said it would award qualifying spots and medals to girls bumped by Hernandez in the three jumping events.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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