KINGSTON, Jamaica -The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) has acknowledged receipt of a letter from the principal of Calabar High threatening withdrawal from the 115th staging of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships now underway at the national stadium, if certain demands are not met.

A letter over the signature of principal Sian Wilson was sent to ISSA, organisers of the five-day track and field championships demanding among other things, reinstatement of Jamal Stephenson “to the Class 1 Boys’ 100m final”; “a formal, thorough and impartial investigation into the actions of meet officials and meet director”; and a “letter of apology to the school from the meet organiser for the distress caused to our athlete, school, and all parties involved.”

President of ISSA, Keith Wellington, told the Jamaica Observer Online on Saturday they had received the letter and were awaiting “a response from our colleague principals before responding.”

He did not give a time line about when the response would be forthcoming.

Stephenson was disqualified for a false start in Wednesday’s semi-finals of the Class 1 boys 100m but the decision was not relayed until almost an hour later, just before the start of the finals which went on without him.

Calabar protested the decision and while the Jury of Appeal overturned the decision, a directive from World Athletics said given that the medals in the event had already been awarded, the event was considered closed.

It was also determined by World Athletics that the athlete should be awarded a point.

However, Calabar are contending that Stephenson should be awarded four points for fifth place as that was where his time of 10.34 seconds in the semis would have placed him in the final.

–          Paul Reid