分类： sports

PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica — The 62nd annual Port Antonio International Blue Marlin Tournament witnessed a commanding performance from team Safe Passage on its second day of competition. Fishing from the Ole Marina, the team successfully released five blue marlin into the ocean, significantly bolstering their standing in the prestigious tournament. This impressive feat brings their two-day cumulative total to eight released marlin, positioning them as the clear frontrunner for the championship title.

Angler Christopher Berry emerged as a standout individual performer, accounting for two of the day’s releases. His successful efforts elevated his personal tally to three marlin, securing his position as the tournament’s leading angler. The remaining three marlin were credited to the skilled efforts of his teammates Samuel Millington, Conrad Berry, and Isaiah Aleong, demonstrating the team’s collective proficiency.

With the conclusion of the second day, the tournament’s overall count stands at nine marlin successfully released back into their habitat, underscoring the event’s commitment to conservation alongside sport. The competition is now poised for a dramatic finale on Saturday. Fishing operations are scheduled to commence at 7:00 AM local time and conclude at 4:00 PM. The tournament will officially culminate with a prize-giving ceremony set for 7:00 PM.

Barring a significant shift in fortunes on the final day, Safe Passage appears to be on an unstoppable trajectory to claim the victor’s title in this historic 62nd edition of the tournament, cementing their legacy in one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated game fishing events.

Jamaican track and field athlete Shantae Foreman delivered a spectacular performance at the Orange and Purple Invitational held at Clemson University in South Carolina on Friday, achieving a world-leading triple jump of 14.17 meters. This remarkable distance not only set a new Clemson University program record but also represents the current top mark in both global and NCAA indoor rankings for the season.

Foreman accomplished this feat on her sole attempt of the competition, surpassing her previous personal best of 13.84 meters established last year. Her jump also broke the previous Clemson record of 13.85 meters set by Portugal’s Patricia Mamona in 2010. The performance stands as the second-best indoor triple jump ever by a Jamaican athlete, trailing only Suzette Lee’s national record of 14.25 meters set in Indianapolis in March 1997.

The achievement eclipsed the previous world lead of 13.87 meters set by France’s Clemence Rougier at a meet in Limoges, France on January 17th.

Other notable performances at the Clemson meet included Briana Campbell winning the women’s 200m in 23.33 seconds after twice improving her personal best in the 60m hurdles. Natoya Goule opened her season with a victory in the women’s 1000m, clocking 2:43.70 minutes.

Meanwhile, at the Louisiana State University Bayou Bengal Indoor meet, Salieci Myles of LSU claimed victory in the women’s 60m hurdles with a time of 8.34 seconds, while Skyler Franklin achieved a personal best of 24.17 seconds to win the women’s 200m event.

Jamaica’s sporting establishment has delivered a powerful collective rebuke against the controversial Enhanced Games, reinforcing the nation’s unwavering commitment to drug-free athletic competition. The unified stance emerged during Thursday’s annual symposium hosted by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) in St. Andrew, where prominent figures including Sport Minister Olivia Grange, coaching authority David Riley, Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Vice-President Ian Forbes, and JADCO Chairperson Debby-Ann Brown Salmon unanimously condemned the scheduled Las Vegas event that permits performance-enhancing substances.

The symposium gained particular significance following recent revelations that Jamaican sprinter Shockoria Wallace became the nation’s first athlete to register for the privately funded competition, which offers substantial financial incentives for record-breaking performances achieved through medically supervised doping. This development prompted former JAAA president Dr. Warren Blake to publicly question the event’s safety protocols and competitive credibility earlier this week.

Minister Grange, addressing attendees as special guest speaker, articulated Jamaica’s official position with unmistakable clarity: ‘As a WADA foundation board member overseeing Jamaica’s anti-doping framework, I cannot endorse participation in the Enhanced Games. This concept contradicts everything we champion at JADCO and as signatories to international anti-doping conventions. We are unequivocally about clean sport, not enhanced performances.’

Grange elevated the discussion beyond regulatory compliance, framing clean competition as fundamental to national identity: ‘We must perceive clean sport as a matter of national character intertwined with our development. Integrity, fairness and discipline define our people and must permeate our sporting culture. Upholding these principles safeguards our global reputation and strengthens the foundation of our athletic excellence.’

During subsequent panel discussions, Forbes identified financial motivation as the primary driver for athlete participation: ‘The potential monetary gain appears the overarching factor. While financial rewards might seem lucrative, most considering participation are athletes nearing career conclusions. This pursuit jeopardizes their legacy and our nation’s sporting integrity.’

Riley acknowledged the event’s potential spectacle value but expressed concern about long-term repercussions: ‘Some athletes might pursue fame or competitive advantage unattainable in clean sport. However, association with such competitions could permanently damage professional reputations regardless of actual substance use.’

Brown Salmon emphasized the dangerous trade-off between short-term gains and lasting consequences: ‘While new platforms and rewards seem attractive, participation undermines principles we’ve tirelessly upheld. Athletes risk their reputations, future eligibility, and most importantly, their nation’s trust. This jeopardizes both personal legacy and Jamaica’s sporting integrity.’

The Jamaican position aligns with international governing bodies including World Athletics and World Aquatics, the latter having implemented 2025 regulations banning athletes who participate in events embracing prohibited substances from its competitions.

The Jamaica Racing Commission has issued disciplinary sanctions against two professional jockeys following official inquiries conducted on January 20, 2026. The proceedings took place at the Commission’s offices located in Big Buy Plaza, Portmore, St Catherine.

Jockey Shane Richardson faced financial penalties for regulatory breaches during competitive events. Richardson, who rode Oro Oro in the eighth race on January 3, 2026, received a $12,500 fine for employing his whip excessively during the competition.

In a separate incident, Jockey Jerome Innis incurred a $10,000 penalty for dangerous riding conduct. During the eighth race on January 1, 2026, while mounted on Mamma Mia, Innis engaged in intimidating behavior and caused improper interference with another competitor, Digital One. The infraction occurred approximately 200 meters from the finish line, potentially affecting race outcomes.

The disciplinary actions demonstrate the racing authority’s continued commitment to maintaining safety standards and fair competition practices within Jamaican horse racing. Such measures aim to protect both equine athletes and human participants while ensuring the integrity of the sport.