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More than 300 participants took part in the Fallen Soldiers 5K on Oct. 10.
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2026 Fallen Soldiers 5K Raises $15,000; Endowed Fund Surpasses $100,000

October 26, 2026

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MACOMB, IL - - The 15th annual Fallen Soldiers 5K drew in more than 300 participants and raised nearly $16,000 for student scholarships on Saturday, Oct. 10.

Richard Brown, Macomb, finished first with a time of 17:24. Sofia Andrade, Monmouth, was the top female finisher with a time of 24:50.

Proceeds from this annual event support the Fallen Soldiers Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for WIU's veteran and military service students. Over 15 years, the Fallen Soldiers 5K has raised more than $270,000 for scholarships. The Fallen Soldiers Endowed Scholarship Fund has surpassed $100,000, ensuring students will benefit from this scholarship opportunity in perpetuity.

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) - Maci Logan; Rushville

  • Male (0-14) - Elias Gabriel; Beardstown

  • Female (15-19) - Lilian Caldwell; Roseville

  • Male (15-19) - Kyler Glaue; Macomb

  • Female (20-24) - Miracle Robinson; Madison, WI

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

  • Female (25-29) - Victoria Becerra; Macomb

  • Male (25-29) - Mark Tillman; Tennessee

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

  • Male (30-34) - Tim Becket; Macomb

  • Female (35-39) - Isamar Rodriguez; Beardstown

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

  • Female (40-44) - Jess Forman; Macomb

  • Male (40-44) - Daniel Lathrop; Macomb

  • Female (45-49) - Stephanie McVey; Monmouth

  • Male (45-49) - Robert Mack; Davenport, IA

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

  • Male (50-54) - Barend Wurth; Adair

  • Female (55-59) - Pamela Stokes; Carol Stream

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

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

  • Male (60-64) - Lawrence Pickett; Macomb

  • Female (65-69) - Lisa Hinman; Macomb

  • Male (65-69) - Pete Donnelly; London Mills

  • Female (70+) - Cindy Friedrich; Havana

  • Male (70+) - Leroy Tappe; Roseville

At the pre-race ceremony, the 2026 Fallen Soldiers Scholarship recipients were recognized. This year's recipients were Erin Everson, a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student from Clinton, IA; Robert Mack, an Alternative Teacher Licensure graduate student from Davenport, IA; Victor Garcia, a senior Emergency Management major from Dundee; and Sheila Hoffer, a senior Human Resource Management major from Fargo, ND.

The sponsors for the 2026 event included: T-shirt sponsor - WIU Foundation; packet sponsor - Pella Corporation Macomb; and hydration station sponsors - The Pirog Family. 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 2026 and previous years, visit wiu.edu/fallensoldiers.

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