Dad of high school track star disqualified over celebration believes decision came with racial motivations
Clara Adams and her father, David, continued to speak out after the teen sprinter had been disqualified from the California state championships over an “unsportsmanlike” celebration.David Adams believes the penalty is motivated, in part, by race. Clara Adams, 16, was competing in the CIF State Championships when she won the 400-meter dash, leading the North Salinas High School sophomore to celebrate by using a fire extinguisher on her running spikes, in homage to famed sprinter Maurice Greene. CIF officials almost immediately approached her and eventually stripped her of her state title and disqualified her from her other events. Since then, the story has garnered national attention, and Adams’ father has alleged that there is a racial component to the situation, explaining during an appearance on “The Will Cain Show” on Fox News that the belief stems from a “history in our country.” “I say that because you look at the governing body, you look at the officials that are on the grass, on the grass area,” David Adams said.“I know for a fact, with the history in our country when it comes to celebrations, when a white girl celebrates or a white boy celebrates, it’s called, he’s passionate.
He’s good for the sport.We need this for the sport.“But when a black girl or a black boy or a brown girl or a black boy, they celebrate, it’s deemed as unprofessional, unsportsmanlike.
It’s ghetto.So why is it OK for one to celebrate, not the other? We have seen that before.
It’s nothing new.I’m not making this up.”Cain did acknowledge that “there is some merit to what you’re saying” in response to David Adams’ explanation. Clara Adams has said she was “set into shock” when she was disqualified from the state championship. “It was just really disappointing, because they just took my moment away from me that quick,” she told Cain.
“You know, you think about, like, how long I have taken, me and my dad, to work for this mom...