CHULA VISTA, Calif. – Farmington native Kevin Eastler posted the second-fastest winning time in race history en route to victory in the 30-kilometer race at the National Racewalk Championships on Sunday.

Eastler, a 26-year-old Mt. Blue High School graduate who is now a captain in the Air Force, broke away from the field of 19 competitors to win the 18.9-mile race in 2 hours, 14 minutes and 44 seconds. That time was well ahead of second-place Al Heppner of the U.S. Army, who finished in 2:16.52, and 13 seconds off the race record of 2:14.31 set by two-time Olympian Allen James in 1993.

Eastler began the race battling flulike symptoms, but was on pace to break that record before having to stop briefly to vomit after the 23rd kilometer.

Eastler recently was accepted into the Air Force World Class Athlete Program in residence, which allows him to train full time through the Olympics. He plans to compete in the U.S. Indoor Nationals on Feb. 28 at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, and in the 20-kilometer race walk at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento in July.