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: 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

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.

Competition Results:
2007: USA Outdoor 20 km champion 20 km (1:26:43.28)...USA 50 km Race Walk Champ (4:05:44U.S. Leader)...28^th at World Outdoor Champs (1:28:29)...31^st at World Outdoor Champs 50 km (4:31:52)...7^th at Pan Am RW Cup (1:29:47)...12^th 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.

Olympic Experience

• 2-time Olympian;
• Olympic Games Beijing 2008, 43th (20km Walk - Men)
• Olympic Games Athens 2004, 21th (20km Walk - Men)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2007 – 28th (20km Walk - Men), 31th (50km Walk - Men)
• Years of participation: 20km Walk - Men 2003, 2007; 50km Walk - Men 2007
• Top finish: 18th – 2003 (20km Walk - Men)