MACOMB, IL - In its 12th year of existence, the Western Illinois University Fallen Soldiers 5K has achieved a fundraising milestone, surpassing $200,000 total raised for the WIU Fallen Soldiers Scholarship Fund.
This year’s event, which was held Sept. 30, raised more than $22,000 between race registrations and sponsorships. The scholarship fund honors WIU alumni Capt. Derek Dobogai and Lt. Col. Robert Baldwin, who were both killed in the line of duty, and provides scholarships to student veterans enrolled at WIU.
Western Illinois University junior General Studies major Jeremie Bokata, of Savoy, IL, was victorious as the overall top male finisher at this year’s race, with a time of 17:30, and Blandinsville, IL, resident Jami Hocker was the overall top female finisher with a time of 24:10.
Other top finishers, by age group include:
Female (0-14) - Alana Knight
Male (0-14) - Jairon Royer
Female (15-19) - Chloe Barth
Male (15-19) - Amir Oden-Shabazz
Female (20-24) - Melissa Allen
Male (20-24) - Godman Sodjedo
Female (25-29) - Alena Hrusoci
Male (25-29) - Riley Witsitt
Female (30-34) - Courtney Snider
Male (30-34) - Colter Hentzel
Female (35-39) - Ashley Walton
Male (35-39) - Nathan Haley
Female (40-44) - Abby Fansler
Male (40-44) - Luis Gabriel
Female (45-49) - Michelle Murphy
Male (45-49) - Clifton Ealy
Female (50-54) - Julia Burns
Male (50-54) - Andres Gonzalez
Female (55-59) - Christina Reid
Male (55-59) - Mike Spann
Female (60-64) - Lisa Hinman
Male (60-64) - Richard Gambrell
Female (65-69) - Kris Pilkington
Male (65-69) - Brad Bainter
Female (70+) - Mary Killip
Male (70+) - David Dion
In total, nearly 450 people participated in the in-person 5K, the one-mile walk or the virtual 5K.
The sponsors for the 2023 event included: T-shirt sponsor - WIU Foundation, bib sponsor - T.J. Dura Edward Jones, finish line sponsor - Jackie and Dave Thompson, water station sponsor - Bookshelf Wines, Macomb Masonic Lodge #177, packet sponsor - Pella Corporation, race route sponsors - The Pirog Family, Dr. Jared Reed, Community News & Market, Bougher, Krisher & Associates, and Clark & Glasgow. The event partners were Mcomb Hy-Vee, Refreshment Services Pepsi and Engraving by Lin.
At the pre-race ceremony, the 2023 Fallen Soldiers Scholarship recipients were recognized. This year’s recipients were Cory Booher, senior Engineering Technology major from Quincy; Natalie Neve, senior Supply Chain Management major from Macomb; Kolin O’Keefe, Recreation, Park, Tourism & Hospitality graduate student from Macomb; Coire Reel, senior General Studies student from Sparta, IL; Nicholas Trylong, senior Nursing major from Rockford; and Ryan Ward, senior Accountancy major from East Moline.
The full race results can be found at bit.ly/3PJuTaJ.
Shirts and medals from the 2023 races are available to purchase, with limited sizes and quantities. To purchase, visit wiu.edu/fallensoldiers.
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