KEVIN EASTLER
Events: Walks
Height: 6-1
Weight: 170
PRs: 20 km walk - 1:22:25 (2003); 50 km walk – 4:05:44 (2007)
Born: Oct. 14, 1977, in Farmington, Maine
Current Residence: Aurora, Colo.
High School: Mt. Blue High School (Farmington, Maine) ’95
College: U.S. Air Force Academy ‘99
Coach: Stephen Plaetzer
Agent: Self
Club: U.S. Air Force 

Career Highlights: 3-time USA 20km champion (’03, ’06, ’07); 2007 USA 50 km champion; 2006 USA Outdoor 30 km champion; U.S. 30 km record holder

 With his victories at the 2007 USA 20 km and 50 km race walk championships, Eastler not only demonstrated his versatility, but also served notice that he has become America’s preeminent men’s race walker.  In 2006, he set an American Record in the 30 km race walk and earned his second 20 km National Championship title. He also posted the three fastest 20 km times by an American in 2006. He ended the season ranked #1 U.S. in the 20 km for the second time in his career, and the first time since 2003. Eastler recorded a huge personal best in the men’s 20 km race walk at the 2003 World Outdoor Championships by placing 18th, tying the highest finish ever by a U.S. walker in the event, with his time of 1 hour, 22 minutes and 25 seconds. His previous best was 1:23:52 from the USA Outdoor Championships. His outstanding 2003 season earned him the 2003 Air Force Male Athlete of the Year award. A captain in the Air Force, Eastler started race walking at the age of 9, following in the footsteps of his older sister, Gretchen. Eastler earned many age group records and All-America honors before entering the U.S. Air Force Academy in the summer of 1995. During his first 3 years at the academy, Eastler focused his efforts on academics and cross-country skiing. Upon reaching his senior year, he started training seriously again, qualifying for the World Cup and finishing 5th at Nationals. Eastler graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force. He spent his first assignment on the World Class Athlete Program, training full-time for the 2000 Olympics. He was denied a spot in the Olympics however, as he failed to achieve an “A” qualifying time at Olympic Trials though he finished in 2nd place. Eastler stopped racewalking for over a year until he was reassigned to F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  Captain Eastler is assigned to the 566th Intelligence Squadron, Buckley AFB, in Colorado. He lives with his wife and daughter in Aurora, Colo.

2007: USA Outdoor 20 km champion 20 km (1:26:43.28)…USA 50 km Race Walk Champ (4:05:44U.S. Leader)…28th at World Outdoor Champs (1:28:29)…31st at World Outdoor Champs 50 km (4:31:52)…7th at Pan Am RW Cup (1:29:47)…12th in 20 km at La Coruna (1:22:56U.S. Leader)…ranked #1 in 20 km & 50 km in U.S. by T&FN…bests of 1:22:56 & 4:05:44.
2006: USA Outdoor 20 km champion (1:25:09.67)... USA Indoor runner-up (19:43.41)…USA 30km champion (2:12:53, U.S. record)…23rd at World Cup (1:22:47)... 1st at U.S. World Cup Trials (1:25:15, course record)…ranked #1 in U.S. at 20 km by T&FN…best of 1:22.47.
2005: 4th at USA Outdoor Champs (1:33:15)…ranked #5 in U.S. at 20 km by T&FN…best of 1:33:15.
2004: 3rd at Olympic Trials 20km (1:28:49)...21st at Olympic Games (1:25:20)…3rd at USA Indoors 5,000m RW (19:50.36)…ranked #2 in U.S. at 20 km by T&FN…best of 1:22:51.
2003: 18th at World Outdoor Champs in 20 km race walk (1:22:25PR, U.S. seasonal leader)…USA Outdoor 20 km champion (1:23:52)…5th at Pan American Race Walk Cup 20 km (1:25.34)…3rd at USA 30 km Championships (2:26:28)…best of 1:22:25…ranked #1 at 20 km in U.S. by T&FN.
2002: 3rd at USA Outdoor 20 km championships (1:28:35)…31st at World Cup 20 km (1:28:18).
2000: 2nd at Olympic Trials 20 km (1:26:38).
1999: 5th at USA Outdoor 20 km championships (1:26:41)...12th at World University Games (1:32:20)...71st at World Cup (1:32:41).

3/20/08