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The Fallen Soldiers 5K drew in more than 350 participants and raised more than $22,000 for student scholarships.

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 º£½ÇÆÆ½â°æ'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 º£½ÇÆÆ½â°æ 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 - º£½ÇÆÆ½â°æ 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 .

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