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The Fallen Soldiers 5K drew in more than 350 participants and raised more than $22,000 for student scholarships.
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2025 Fallen Soldiers 5K Raises $19,000; Surpasses $250,000 Total Raised

November 11, 2025

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MACOMB, IL - The 2025 Fallen Soldiers 5K took place on Saturday, Oct. 4. This year's event drew in more than 350 participants and raised more than $19,000 for student scholarships.

Nathan Haley of Macomb finished first with a time of 18:15. Meg Simmons, a freshman Agricultural Business major from Macomb, was the top female finisher for the second year in a row with a time of 20:50.

Proceeds from this annual event support the Fallen Soldiers Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for WIU's veteran and military service students. Over 14 years, the Fallen Soldiers 5K has raised more than $256,000 for scholarships.

The event and scholarship fund honor the memory of WIU alumni Capt. Derek Dobogai and Lt. Col. Robert Baldwin, who were both killed in the line of duty.

Other top finishers, by age group, include:


  • Female (0-14) - Annabelle Wirsing; Prophetstown

  • Male (0-14) - Easton Donnelly; London Mills


  • Female (15-19) - Megan Redding; Macomb

  • Male (15-19) - Reed Lytle; Macomb


  • Female (20-24) - Faith Demler; Canton

  • Male (20-24) - Amir Oden-Shabazz; Macomb


  • Female (25-29) - Renee Lock; Avon

  • Male (25-29) - Austin Pray; Macomb


  • Female (30-34) - Nicole Gillotti; Macomb

  • Male (30-34) - Colter Hentzel; Macomb


  • Female (35-39) - Jenna Rickard; Macomb

  • Male (35-39) - Sam Moore; Blandinsville


  • Female (40-44) - Ashley Walton; Chadwick

  • Male (40-44) - Luis Gabriel; Beardstown


  • Female (45-49) - Amanda Sperry; Alexis

  • Male (45-49) - Scott Lawson; Macomb


  • Female (50-54) - Michelle Murphy; Monmouth

  • Male (50-54) - Bradley Bolton; Trivoli


  • Female (55-59) - Julia Burns, Macomb

  • Male (55-59) - Andres Gonzalez; Colona


  • Female (60-64) - Andrea Gonzalez; Colona

  • Male (60-64) - Mike Toohill; Bloomington


  • Female (65-69) - Laura Barden-Gabbei; Macomb

  • Male (65-69) - Michael Heille; Macomb


  • Female (70+) - Peg Humes; North Henderson

  • Male (70+) - Skip Skripps; Macomb


In total, nearly 400 people participated in the in-person 5K, the one-mile walk or the virtual 5K.

At the pre-race ceremony, the 2025 Fallen Soldiers Scholarship recipients were recognized. This year's recipients were Matsie Baker, a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student from Bettendorf, Iowa; Cory Booher, an Engineering Technology graduate student from Quincy; Skyler Funk, a Public Safety Administration graduate student from Gibson CIty; David Offhaus, a senior Supply Chain Management Major from Plano; and Kimberlyn Raab, a senior Engineering Technology major from Warren.

The sponsors for the 2025 event included: T-shirt sponsor - WIU Foundation; finish line sponsor - Jackie and Dave Thompson; packet sponsor - Pella Corporation Macomb, race route sponsors - The Pirog Family and Dr. Jared Reed. The event partners were Macomb Hy-Vee, Refreshment Services Pepsi and Engraving by Lin.

To see full race results, view photos from the event, and purchase shirts from 2025 and previous years, visit wiu.edu/fallensoldiers/.

Posted By: Drew Donahoo (AM-Donahoo@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing