Katie Eastburn - Augustana College
Geneseo, Ill./Dawson Country - Glendive, Montana
Junior, Women's Track & Field
Military Branch: National Guard
Rank: Corporal (7 years enlisted)

How has your time in the military helped shape your athletics career?
My time in the military has taught me discipline and showed me I am capable of more than I ever thought possible. Whether it was through Basic Training, Advanced Individual Training or the five years I have spent in various units, the military has tested my endurance and perseverance. I believe this perfectly correlates with my athletic career because my drive and work ethic translated over into every practice and every meet. In both Track and the military, there have been many obstacles physically, emotionally and mentally. Due to the strength I have gained through my experiences, I have been able to face every single challenge head-on. Thanks to these challenges, I am not only a better soldier but also a better athlete.

What's the biggest benefit you take away from your time in the service?
No matter what type of adversity I face, I have learned resiliency skills to help me cope, adapt to change, and thrive in life.

What ultimately drew you to compete at Augustana and what do you enjoy most at your institution?
 I was initially drawn to Augustana for its close proximity to my family. Although, once I started looking into what Augustana had to offer, it was their track program that sold me. The head coach Dave Thompson met with me, looked at my high school times and within 48 hours created a plan on how to get me from my current times to running lifetime PRs. Between his confidence and my desire to discover my full potential on the track, I was absolutely certain Augustana was the school for me.