Sophomore thrower Chris McIntyre’s battle with leukemia inspires ISU teammates

Superman had kryptonite.

Chris McIntyre had track and field.

Without kryptonite, Superman was just an average citizen, but without track and field, McIntyre became the real hero.

The sophomore was just about to begin his first season as a scholarship thrower for ISU when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer commonly found in children six to 10 years old.

McIntyre visited the doctor the week of Dec. 20, 2009 after experiencing pain in his testicle. Initially, his doctors thought that it was testicular cancer, but after removing the testicle and taking a look at the biopsy results, the diagnosis proved otherwise. 

“When I thought it was testicular cancer, I was excited to know that I would be able to go back to school in a couple of weeks, but to have it all taken away that way hurts,” McIntyre said.

The first thing to cross McIntyre’s mind was not the fact that he would have to battle a deadly disease, but instead that he would be missing out on his passion.

“I love track,” McIntyre said. “It’s a place I can go to after school to blow off some steam. For those two to three hours, I don’t have to worry about anything. Having to miss track practice and my teammates is especially tough now.”

Soon after McIntyre learned he had cancer, he had to break the news to his coaches and teammates that he would not be back for second semester.

The first people to find out were throwing coach Erik Whitsitt and head coach Elvis Forde. When the athletes returned from winter break, the team was gathered and the announcement was made.

“I miss him a lot,” former MVC all-conference Sam Springer said. “Chris was the type of person that came to meets and practices and loved to be there, and that was an inspiration. He had a drive and to see him missing out on this season makes me really sad.”

“Chris is one of the most outgoing people you could ever meet. We are really missing him right now,” freshman Pat Trofimuk said. “He is really hard-working and you could tell he wanted to be the best thrower here.”

The heart and inspiration that McIntyre showed in the sport was what everyone on the team seemed to gravitate toward and standing behind him, giving encouragement every step of the way was the most natural thing to do. 

The Redbirds went above and beyond to show their support for McIntyre on Jan. 16 when they hosted Indiana State.

The coaches all wore orange ribbons for leukemia research awareness while most of the runners wrote “for Chris” on their legs or arms. Every member of the throwing team wore shirts reading “Throwing for Chris” on the front and “Big Mac is my Hero” on the back.

McIntyre made the trip from his hometown in Deerfield, Ill. to cheer his teammates on and before the meet began, the team gave him a shirt signed by all the athletes. The ISU swimming and diving and basketball teams also gave McIntyre get-well cards.

But the track and field team did not stop there. The team told McIntyre that they would be bringing his equipment bag to every meet this season so that he can be there in spirit. 

“I thought what they did was a great honor,” McIntyre said. “My team has been very supportive through all of this. To know that there are so many people who care and who are behind me every step of the way makes it that much easier for me and my family.”

McIntyre’s gift is track and field, and although he is just another face on the ISU campus, he is someone that has taken what he has learned from his gift and applied it to a situation requiring his entire strength. That alone has made him an inspiration and a hero to many people that proudly wear red and white.

“Being an athlete has helped me to endure this ordeal,” McIntyre said. “Being an athlete has taught me how to deal with many different challenges and my diagnosis is just another challenge that I will overcome.”