Anchorage Daily News

A frequent -- and first-class -- flier for UAA's track and field team, it was fitting that David Registe used airline miles to give back to the man who helped him become one of the school's all-time best athletes.

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David Registe

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By redeeming 40,000 miles, Registe was able to get his dad, Martin, a plane ticket from Alaska to Texas for this week's NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Registe will try to fly far enough Thursday in San Angelo to claim a second straight national title in the men's long jump.

"He's never seen me jump in college," said Registe, a junior from Palmer who owns the best D-II mark in the nation this season.

Given that the Seawolves travel Outside for every meet, and given the price of airline tickets, Registe said he never wanted his athletic career to financially burden his parents.

"I'm sure they've wanted to come watch," he said. "But I never wanted them to spend the money. It wasn't worth it."

On Thursday, Registe wants to make sure his performance is worth the miles he cashed in for his dad's 61st birthday present.

After all, when Registe was a senior at Colony High, his dad urged him to find a scholarship for college. He didn't have to search very far.

After Registe met with Seawolves coach Michael Friess, he immediately wanted to join the team.

"I'm glad my dad pushed me to give it my best," Registe said. "I'm amazed at how far I've come."

Registe is tied for the 36th-best mark in the world this year with a leap of 25 feet and 1034 inches, a distance he registered a month ago in California despite a bum hamstring in his right, or take-off, leg.

He injured the hamstring in March but has steadily worked it back into shape.

"Speed-wise, I'm 100 percent," he said. "I feel like I could jump over a building."

Other than his father, Registe credits UAA jumping coach Rafael Echavarria for molding him into one of the nation's best long jumpers.

"If it wasn't for him, I'd be hitting the same old marks I had in high school," Registe said.

Registe entered college as Alaska's two-time defending long jump champion. He won his second high school title during his senior year with a leap of 22-414.

Since then, Echavarria, a one-time member of Mexico's national track and field team, has helped Registe increase his leap by 3-612 .

Registe possessed raw talent coming out of high school, Echavarria said. All he needed was a suitable place to practice his mechanics.

Registe's first two years of college track were spent at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex, a place that lacked the facilities Echavarria needed to hold a legitimate jumping practice.

When The Dome opened in January 2008, it had a track but not a long jump pit.

The pit, however, was ready this season, giving Echavarria a chance to show Registe how to reach his potential.

"He's not jumping this good because he's lucky," Echavarria said. "There are a lot of people in this world who can jump and a lot who are really fast. There's not many people who have both."

Before this season, Registe's sprint toward the board had always started at 113 feet.

But after studying video of Olympic long jumpers who started at 145 feet, Echavarria figured another 32 feet might increase Registe's leap.

At first, Registe questioned his coach's move.

"It just looks so much farther," Registe told him.

Echavarria understood. "Adding 32 feet is a dramatic change," he said.

Because of the hamstring injury, Registe only practiced the 145-foot running approach twice before UAA traveled to Norwalk, Calif., for the team's final regular season meet.

Registe, who had just finished running the 100-meter dash, was on the line ready for his first competitive jump ever with a 145-foot approach.

"Am I going to be tired by the time I hit the board?" Registe wondered.

He landed and felt good about the jump, but assumed it was just another 24-footer. Once Registe's jump was announced at 25-1034, he knew immediately that Echavarria's tweak in his approach made the difference. The jump is the ninth best this season among all collegiate long jumpers in the United States.

"I knew I had potential," Registe said. "Luckily I have people who bring it out of me."

Find Kevin Klott online at adn.com/contact/kklott or call 257-4335.

Going to nationals

UAA will send 10 athletes to this week’s NCAA Division II track and field championships in San Angelo, Texas.

David Kiplagat, a senior, qualified for the national meet for a fourth consecutive season. He’ll race in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Making their third appearances will be junior David Registe (long jump) and senior Elizabeth Chepkosgei (5,000 meters).

The others are first-time qualifiers:

• Mick Boyle, senior, (800 meters)

• James Pettigrew, senior, (800)

• Marko Cheseto, sophomore, (5,000 and 10,000),

• Demietrius Preston, sophomore (long jump)

• Shaun Ward, sophomore (400 hurdles)

• Alfred Kangogo, freshman (1,500)

• Cory Pena, freshman, (800)

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