LiveStrong: Part 1

Oct 9, 2004 -- VIRGINIA BEACH — LiveStrong? Not in cross country.

The fluorescent yellow wristbands are a cultural phenomenon.
But at a meet Wednesday, the Beach District’s top cross country
administrator ruled that they fall under the category of jewelry.
The result: More than two dozen runners were disqualified for wearing them.

“It’s the stupidest rule I’ve ever heard,” Bayside coach
Lanny Doan said. “We’re talking about a rubber band.
It’s not going to harm anyone.”

Ocean Lakes coach Mike Nestor said that no warning was issued
to runners at the start line Wednesday at Sportsplex, adding that
his girls team lost because of the disqualifications.

"Basically, we lost because of a cancer-support bracelet,”
Nestor said. “This is a friendly sport. I’d rather be told kids had
to take them off before they run than told 'Gotcha!’ afterward.”

Ocean Lakes senior Drew Midland has worn his since July. He was
one of the 26 runners who were disqualified.

“The ironic thing is our team had something called 'athlete of the meet,’
and we were giving these Lance Armstrong bracelets out to that person,”
Midland said. “It never crossed my mind that they would count that as jewelry.”

There are 12 million LiveStrong wristbands in circulation, and they
sell for $1 apiece. All proceeds of sales go to the Lance Armstrong
Foundation, which provides practical information to cancer survivors.

Armstrong is quite possibly the world’s most famous cancer survivor,
having won cycling’s Tour de France six times after battling testicular
cancer. He has vowed never to take off his wristband, and nearly
every track and field athlete at the recent Athens Olympics wore
the wristbands in competition.

Although high school cross country rules state that “no contestants
shall wear jewelry with the exception of religious or medical metals,”
runners consistently are allowed to compete while wearing wristwatches.

Linda Babb, Kellam High school’s athletic director and the administrator
who oversees Beach District cross country, said she twice issued warnings
to coaches about the “no jewelry” policy. She added that coaches received
copies of the rules at the beginning of the season and were e-mailed prior
to Wednesday’s meet with reminders that the rule would be enforced.

Princess Anne sophomore Katy Winsper said the runners were reminded
at the starting line that they needed to remove all jewelry. Winsper had
a thin elastic hair band around her wrist, unaware that it was illegal.
Winsper won but was disqualified.

“Are you kidding me?” Winsper said afterward.

Landstown’s Shannon Ralston had run her best time of the season
but was disqualified for wearing the LiveStrong band.

“I think it’s a silly rule,” she said. “But had I been told at the
starting line, I would have obeyed it.”