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Isaac Jones (left) finished first at the Fallen Soldiers 5K, while °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ freshman Meg Simmons (right) was the top female finisher.

$22,000 Raised Through 2024 Fallen Soldiers 5K

November 13, 2024


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MACOMB, IL - - °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ kicked off Military Appreciation week by hosting the 13th annual Fallen Soldiers 5K, on Saturday, Nov. 2. This year's event drew in more than 450 participants and raised more than $22,000 for student scholarships.

Isaac Jones of Table Grove finished first with an impressive time of 16:37. Meg Simmons, a freshman Agricultural Business major from Macomb, was the top female finisher with a time 21:30.

Proceeds from this annual event support the Fallen Soldiers Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼'s veteran and military service students. In its first 13 years, the Fallen Soldiers 5K has raised more than $237,000 for scholarships.

The event and scholarship fund honor the memory of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ 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) - Kinley Merrick; Browning
Male (0-14) - Ezra Bithos; Colchester

Female (15-19) - Hattie Mourning; Macomb
Male (15-19) - Ross Stehl; Bushnell

Female (20-24) - Hana Daoudi; Macomb
Male (20-24) - Arnold Estrada; Macomb

Female (25-29) - Colette Norris; Tiffin, IA
Male (25-29) - Joshua Cook; Peoria

Female (30-34) - Kara Sahagian; Macomb
Male (30-34) - Brennan Parks; Macomb

Female (35-39) - Jess Forman; Macomb
Male (35-39) - Nathan Haley; Macomb

Female (40-44) - Abby Fansler; Avon
Male (40-44) - Tim Harting; Macomb

Female (45-49) - Michelle Escapa; Rushville
Male (45-49) - Joel Parsons; Peoria

Female (50-54) - Kami Althar; Dallas City
Male (50-54) - Andres Gonzalez; Colona

Female (55-59) - Julia Burns, Macomb
Male (55-59) - Paul Vincent; Frederick

Female (60-64) - Barbara Drozdz; Hamilton
Male (60-64) - Richard Gambrell; Carthage

Female (65-69) - Connie Clark; Springfield
Male (65-69) - Bob Snyder; Clinton, IA

Female (70+) - Vicky Cox; Macomb
Male (70+) - Skip Skripps; Macomb

In total, more than 450 people participated in the in-person 5K, the one-mile walk or the virtual 5K.

At the pre-race ceremony, the 2024 Fallen Soldiers Scholarship recipients were recognized. This year's recipients were Skyler Funk, senior Law Enforcement and Justice Administration major from Gibson City; Kimberlyn Raab, senior Engineering Technology major from Warren; James Davis, Business Administration graduate student from Bettendorf, IA; Wade Brady, senior Communication major from Galesburg; and Aaron Steele, Clinical/Community Mental Health graduate student from Knoxville. Steven Wright, a senior Agricultural Science major from Pekin, was also recognized posthumously as a spring 2024 scholarship recipient. Wright passed away in April.

The sponsors for the 2024 event included: T-shirt sponsor - °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Foundation; bib sponsor - ShaZam Racing; 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 2024 and previous years, visit wiu.edu/fallensoldiers/.

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