JC Coach Harrison denies he was warned by ISSA not to use ‘ineligible’ athlete
PHILADELPHIA, USA — Neil Harrison, head coach of Jamaica College, has sought to “clear his name” after he has been implicated in the decision to include an ineligible runner in the 4x800m team that resulted in them being disqualified.
Nicholas Power, who transferred from Calabar High at the start of the school year in September and enrolled at Jamaica College, was ineligible to compete at the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships last month but was part of the 4x800m team that was seeking to retain the title they won last year.
According to the Penn Relays rules for high schools, athletes who are not “in good standing with their State” or governing body, that is, ISSA in Jamaica, are not eligible to compete for the school at the Relay Carnival.
Harrison has strenuously refuted allegations that he was personally told by ISSA officials that Power was ineligible.
He told the Jamaica Observer on Saturday that he was named in several online publications, but said: “I have never had any conversations with anyone from ISSA about Power’s eligibility,” adding that it was damaging to his integrity.
“I have seen several places where persons have been making comments on the situation based on what has been published,” Harrison said.
Meanwhile, ISSA President Keith Wellington confirmed that Harrison was not spoken to by anyone from ISSA about the situation, but pointed out that the teams were supposed to know the rules of the competition.
It is understood that a number of schools had protested Power’s inclusion in the Jamaica College team and Harrison pointed out that they were not the only school that would have broken the rule and pointed out a case in 2013 when Wolmer’s Boys’ used a runner who was not eligible for Champs at the Penn Relays on a team that finished second in the High School Boys’ 4x100m Championships of Americas final.
Harrison also pointed out that there were also other Jamaican schools that had used athletes who were not eligible for Champs this year at the Penn Relays.
