Staab on Sports

  File Photo / ICC Athletics East Peoria, Ill. - As we await the start of competition for athletes within the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), the organization came out with some big news on Thursday afternoon.  Per a release from the NJCAA, their Board of Regents voted that "all 2020-21 NJCAA sport seasons will not count towards student-athlete eligibility".  The organization's move to allow such breathing room for current student-athletes at institutions like Illinois Central College follows similar moves at the NCAA level.  In the release, NJCAA President & CEO Dr. Christopher Parker feels this decision was made while keeping the student-athlete in the forefront. "The Board of Regents feels this decision is best for the success and well-being of our student-athletes and member colleges at this time," Parker said. Troy Tucker is the chair of the NJCAA's Eligibility Committee. He says that it wasn't the easiest of decisions, but...

Katie Lalumandier and Ian O'Laughlin run during Saturday's Runnin' Red Invite PHOTOS / ALEX STAAB Metamora, Ill. -  It wasn't exactly the most convential way to run the 44th Annual Runnin' Red Cross Country Invitational at Metamora's Black Partridge Park, but with the COVID-19 pandemic still active, the races found themselves split into two days. Once Saturday came around, it was finally the turns for the Lady Runnin' Red and Runnin' Red to take it to their home course.  For the girls side of things, once the race got into a comfortable spot after the start, a group of three began to pull away, featuring two girls from Eureka and one from Bloomington. Beyond that was Lady Runnin' Red junior Katie Lalumandier.  After being in that position when the groups first became visible in the central area of the course, those places essentially stuck. With Lalumandier having more space between her and that pack, she says it can be hard to truly determine whethe...