The DNA double helix is transformed from an intertwined spiral into knotted shoelaces when it comes to Gary Fanelli Jr.’s genetics. Mom Connie Comiso-Fanelli remains one of the most accomplished female road runners in Hawaii annals.
Dad Gary Sr., a 1988 Olympic marathoner representing American Samoa, was known internationally as the "clown prince of road racing" because of his running costumes.
And uncle Mike Fanelli was the head coach of the U.S. track and field team.
Was there ever a choice for Gary Fanelli Jr.?
"I never really thought about it; running was something I always enjoyed," the Damien Memorial School senior said. "I haven’t felt the pressure (of the family name). I just try to do my best every time."
Fanelli has done very well as a middle-distance and cross country runner. He ranks top-five in the 400 and 800, and top-10 in the 1,500 in the state according to hi.milesplit.com. At last fall’s state cross country meet, he placed ninth.
"He has a wonderful future ahead of him in running," said Brother Bernie Samp, a cross country and track coach at Damien. "He’s a very strong runner, very dedicated and hard working. And he has not yet reached his full potential.
An honors student, Fanelli continues to lower his times. At Friday’s Honolulu Marathon Invitational at Mililani High, he turned in personal bests in both the 1,500 (second in 4:13.46) and 400 (fourth in 51.39.). He also anchored the Monarchs’ 4×400 relay team, which finished third in 3:34.84.
Those who saw Fanelli run couldn’t help but be reminded of his father. Same stride, same upright form, same concentration.
But there also was a lot of mom there, too, with the graceful style, strong finish and the post-race embracing of competitors.
"He runs just like his father," said Comiso-Fanelli, who started her running career at the University of Hawaii in the 1970s under Johnny Faerber. "He’s grown up in the running culture, so it’s only nature he would follow this.
"I never pushed him, just wanted to make sure he stayed off the couch. I tried to get him to play basketball or volleyball because of his height, but (running) is in his blood. He’s put in a lot of time and miles. I didn’t think he’d start catching me until he was 16, but he was beating me at 12."
Comiso-Fanelli, a nurse at Queen’s and cross country coach at Punahou, said she helps her son train "as much as he’ll let me," she said. "People are always asking when he’ll run a marathon. He’s too young now, only 17. It takes so much out of you.
"I want him to excel in the shorter races, slowly build up. It’s fine with me if he doesn’t run one until he’s 30. But (the marathon) is in his blood."
Comiso-Fanelli has finished more than 100 marathons and won the Run to the Sun, the 36.2-mile race up Haleakala, six times. Fanelli Sr., who moved to the mainland more than a decade ago, also has finished more than 100 marathons, competed in the 1980 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and holds the American Samoa national record at that distance with his 2:25.35 at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
"Maybe a marathon some day," Fanelli Jr. said. "And maybe try for the Olympics if I get good enough. But right now I want to keep getting better."
Accepted at six colleges, he’s looking at studying journalism and running for Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. Faerber, his mother’s former college and road-racing coach, is in the area, as are a number of friends who are competing for schools in the running hotbed of Oregon.
It’s no surprise that Fanelli’s running idol is the late Steve Prefontaine, the great middle- and long-distance runner out of the University of Oregon.
Fanelli, who will attain his Eagle Scout rank this year, runs during the summers for Godspeed Track Club. His best friend and 800 rival is Michael Chin of Christian Academy, whose father, Rick, is the head coach of GTC.
Chin and Fanelli rank 1-2 in the state at 800.
Godspeed fits in perfectly with Fanelli’s Christian faith.
"I attribute everything to God," he said. "I try to do my best every time for Him."
Comiso-Fanelli remembers one incident that speaks to her son’s kind heart.
"One night we were driving home and saw a homeless woman in the freeway onramp," she said. "Gary said stop, we have to help her. He jumped out of the car and all I could say was, ‘Tell her you’re a Boy Scout and you want to help her cross the street.’ He said he couldn’t just let something happen to her. He made sure she was safe."
