Register of Resilience: Auburn High star wins for more than herself

AUBURN, Ala. (WTVM) - For Auburn High School junior McKinzie Register, winning a national championship was the result of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

The All-American hurdler capped off a remarkable spring season by helping lead Auburn High to a state championship while also claiming a national title in the 400-meter hurdles.

Register said the accomplishment reflects countless hours of training and the support system around her.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” Register said. “I practice five days a week, sometimes six days a week, and it’s a lot of hard work that goes into it, but it all pays off. My parents push me every single day to be a better person, be a better person on the track and in real life.”

While Register’s success has come on the track, much of her motivation comes from watching her father, Steven Register, battle through one of the toughest challenges of his life.

Steven Register, a former Major League Baseball player and Shaw High School graduate, was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer two years ago.

“Two years ago I got diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer,” Steven Register said. “Right when we met with the oncologist, he gave me a year to live.”

For Mckinsie, races are measured in seconds. For her father, the fight has been measured in days, months, and years.

His determination became a lesson she carries with her every time she steps onto the track.

“Just to fight as hard as you can,” Mckinsie said. “No matter if you’re tired at the end of a race, you have to fight and try to push as hard as you can to finish the race.”

As Steven continued his battle, Mckinsie continued pursuing her athletic goals. One chased a national championship, while the other fought for the opportunity to be there to witness it.

“It meant a lot,” Steven said. “I technically wasn’t supposed to be here, wasn’t supposed to be here for any of this. So to be there and witness it and help her through it all, it’s been a lot.”

When Mckinsie captured her national title, the moment carried a significance beyond medals and accolades.

“It was so amazing,” she said. “It was really hard for me whenever he got diagnosed, but because track is kind of me and his thing and he trains a lot with me, that was really hard. Every time I ran and did anything on the track, it was for him.”

For Steven, seeing his daughter achieve the goals she set for herself was a reward in itself.

“It meant so much,” he said. “Just as a father, seeing her accomplish the goals that she set out to do. I’m kind of her side coach in a way, and to see all the hard work that we have been putting in actually pay off, it was awesome.”

Mckinsie now stands as a national champion, while Steven’s journey has shown his family the true meaning of resilience.

Though their races have been very different, both have been fueled by the same determination to keep moving forward. And when Mckinsie crossed the finish line as a national champion, her biggest inspiration was there to see it.