National Reaction story: Commentators, bloggers and the national media continued Wednesday to debate the finish of a dual track meet that ended in controversy when a pole vaulter was disqualified for wearing a friendship bracelet.

Our Keith Lair, who covered the event, says don’t blame Monrovia coach Mike Knowles: One website said that Knowles could have suggested to Laird to remove the bracelet long before she jumped. Well, it was so cold that the athletes were not removing their sweats until they got on the runway, so there is no way Knowles could have known earlier that she was wearing a bracelet.