Kevin Eastler, a 1995 graduate of Mt. Blue High School, became the first American racewalker to surpass the Olympic ‘A’ qualifying standard in nearly two decades when he finished 18th this past weekend in the 20-kilometer event at the 2003 World Championships in Paris.

A captain in the U.S. Air Force, Eastler, 25, set a personal best with a time of one hour, 22 minutes and 25 seconds. The time was the second fastest ever recorded by an American and was eight seconds shy of Tim Lewis’ American record of 1:22:17.

His 18th-place finish ties him with the best performance by an American racewalker at any world championship.

Eastler’s 10K splits were 41:20 and 41:05.

As the only American to meet the ‘A’ standard, Eastler will automatically qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens if he wins next year’s Olympic Trials.