LiveStrong: Part 2

Oct. 13, 2004

Stung by criticism of its action, a high school district has
reversed a decision to disqualify cross country runners for
wearing Lance Armstrong LiveStrong wristbands.

The decision was reversed because "adequate prior notice
had not been given to the participants," Bruce Biehl, Kellam
High School's principal and chairman of Beach District cross country,
said in a statement released Tuesday.

More than 20 runners were declared ineligible in a meet last Wednesday
for wearing the popular LiveStrong bands.

Runners will be allowed to continue wearing the wristbands for
the rest of the district cross country season, he said. Biehl added that
clarification will be sought on wearing the bands during regional and
state competitions.

A flood of e-mails protesting the decision followed a story Saturday
in The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk detailing the Beach District's action.

The decision to disqualify the runners, Biehl said, was in keeping
with a recently drafted National Federation of State High School
Associations ruling classifying the band as jewelry. But Biehl
acknowledged that runners and coaches weren't given much notice.
The Virginia High School League circulated the new policy to schools
on Oct. 4, two days before the meet.

Many of the runners in last Wednesday's meet said they were
unaware that the bands were classified as jewelry and would have
taken them off had they known they risked disqualification.

"Our kids certainly weren't wearing them to be defiant,"
said Mike Nestor, coach at Ocean Lakes High. "We're kind of in
awe of everything that's happened."

But Nestor said the controversy has served as a learning tool for his athletes.

"Sometimes you wear that band but forget what it's really for,"
Nestor said. "I've received e-mails from all over the country from
cancer survivors voicing their support. Through their stories, we've
learned what an inspiration that band really is."