As the leaves turn golden and the air begins to crisp, the Asbury University cross country team gathers for an event that has been forever transformed. The annual Asbury Chick-fil-A Invitational has undergone a change, now bearing the name of Asbury’s Justin Spoon.
On March 23, Spoon passed away after a “courageous battle” with cancer, and the Asbury community mourned the loss of their beloved teammate, classmate and leader.
“He exemplified everything we strive for in Asbury Athletics: academic excellence, spiritual vitality, and athletic success,” Head Coach Dr. Randy Crist told Asbury Athletics in March. “Justin’s work ethic in practice was incredible. His smile and laugh were infectious, and his Christian character was inspiring. He was loved by his teammates and will be greatly missed by all of us.”
“He embodied what it meant to be a relentlessly hard worker, always positive, and ever-present in roles as a leader and an athlete,” senior cross country runner Wes Preston said. “He was extremely talented. Justin was always running further, faster and harder than everyone else. He did it all with no complaints and a big smile.”
Throughout his time at Asbury, Spoon was a hardworking student and a driven athlete. During his senior year, he began a difficult journey that tested his resilience.
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare and highly aggressive form of cancer that Spoon was diagnosed with midway through his final year at Asbury.
“RMS is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents, accounting for approximately 5% of all pediatric cancers and about one-half of all soft tissue sarcomas,” The National Library of Medicine said.
With his adult diagnosis, fighting the cancer was harder for Spoon because, according to Yale Medicine, “the cancer grows more quickly and may be located in difficult-to-treat body parts.”
Despite the hardships of the cancer, Spoon’s tenacity on the cross-country course was mirrored in his fight against the disease. Even as he underwent treatments and faced the uncertainty of his future, Spoon continued to inspire his teammates and the entire Asbury University community.
The program for the meet has a journal entry from Spoon when he realized he could not beat RMS.
“There is no cure… I refuse to let that news break me, though. Life is only worth it if I make it worth it,” Spoon said. “Right now, I vow to live every single day I have left to the fullest. I vow to love with my whole heart, laugh with every ounce of air in my lungs, run ’til my legs give out, and squeeze every drop of goodness out of this load of lemons life has dropped on me. God has a plan, and even though I struggle to see where this will lead me, I trust Him. I refuse to let cancer take control and make me bitter.”
The decision to rename the 50th edition of the Asbury Chick-fil-A Invitational to include Spoon’s name was a unanimous one with the hopes that it would ensure the opportunity to share his story of character, commitment, leadership and ministry for many years to come.
“Renamining the meet after Justin honors his legacy and what he did here at Asbury and those he impacted. He was a servant of the lord,” Preston said. “Asbury University, its cross country team, and the entire community will gather to celebrate the indomitable spirit of a young man whose legacy will forever inspire generations to come.”
Tomorrow, Asbury will race alongside Campbellsville-Harrodsburg, KCU, KSU, Mount St. Joseph, Welch and running clubs from the Univeristy of Dayton and UK. For many, The Spoon’s Fiercely Faithful Meet is not just a race; it’s a celebration of a life that continues to motivate and uplift all those who are fortunate enough to know his story.
Article written by Anna Hunsinger.