2003 Ad

Airman, March, 2004

SAN ANTONIO -- The Air Force announced its 2003 Athletes of the Year in December at the annual Athletic Business Conference in Orlando, Fla.

First Lt. Laura McDonald from Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and Capt. Kevin Eastler from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., received top honors.

Lieutenant McDonald is one of the nation's top female rugby players. She was one of 36 players selected from a pool of 12,000 for the USA Eagle Women's National Team, the 2006 world cup team.

She was also one of 12 players selected for the U.S. Women's National Sevens Rugby team, She competed in more than 15 international matches during 2003.

Captain Eastler, the United States' elite race walker, became the first American to qualify for the Olympic "A" standard time.

He was also formally recognized in December by USA Track and Field and presented the Capt. Ron Zinn Memorial award as the country's top race walker.