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Doing it for dad: Inspired by her father, Andover's Muccio stands out on track

Thursday, March, 06 By David Willis
Staff writer

In her stance, just before the gun sounded to start the 55-meter dash at the Massachusetts Division 1 State Meet on Sunday, Christina Muccio looked down at her right hand and the letters "FPM" as she has done before every race of her varsity career.

"I write my father's initials on my hand every time before I run," said the Golden Warriors senior. "I look at it right before I go for inspiration."

The initials stand in for Fran Muccio, who could not be at the race because of his struggle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, which he has been battling since 1999.

"It's been tough," said Muccio. "But I always call him after every meet and tell him how I did. I am always really excited to tell him."

Muccio had plenty to tell her father on Sunday when she took first in the 55 at the Division 1 States with a blazing time of 7.33, just off her personal best time and just enough to defeat Hannah Janeczak of Doherty (7.36). She also ran the second leg of the 4x200 relay that won in 1:45.28, breaking their own state record they set a season ago. The Andover team took third overall.

"I had to relax because I stiffen up when I worry," said the senior. "It came down to me and (Janeczak) and I came out on top. It was unbelievable. I had a good feeling and it was just great to win."

And she left no doubt where her motivation came from.

"I visit my father at the hospice in Reading before every meet and he hypes me up for it," said Muccio. "He always tells me to get mad and have an attitude out there. That's part of remaining me to have confidence and be focused to run my best and try to improve."

Even though her father cannot attend races anymore, Muccio still had a vocal cheering section at the Reggie Lewis Center Sunday.

"My brother (2004 Eagle-Tribune Defensive Player of the Year Mike Muccio) came back from college and my mom and a couple of my friends were all there," said Muccio. "They are the loudest ones. I can hear them all the time."

Once meets end, she gets to celebrate her victory once again with her dad.

"They video tape every meet and put it on the internet now," she said. "It's been awesome. I get to go and watch the meet again with hm. He really likes that."

He has had many stellar matches to watch this season, which has been a banner one for his daughter. She won the 55 in the MVC Meet two weeks ago and at the Mass. Elite meet the week before with a personal best 7.31. She has lost only once this season. She also broke the MVC record in the 50-yard dash with a personal-best 6.1 against Haverhill.

"It's amazing what she has been able to do with her father struggling," said Andover coach Peter Comeau. "This seems to be her way of saying, 'I love you.' It feels great to see her do this her senior season, after all she has been through."

Muccio will now run in the All-State meet on Sunday, once again at the Reggie Lewis Center.

Relaying success

The Golden Warriors' 4x200 relay team faced a challenge leading up to the meet, when senior stalwart Bizzy DiTroia went down with an injury.

But they weren't going to be held back.

With Emily Shields taking DiTroia's role as the third runner | after Melissa Knapp and Muccio and before Vanessa Singleton | the relay team won with a time of 1:45.28. "I think the connection between us is great," said Muccio. "Handoffs are really important. If you have four fast girls and bad handoffs, then you don't have much."

Andover led right off the bat with Knapp's start.

"I have to come out hard," said Knapp. "You have to move really fast and you have to drive your arms and push as hard as you can. By the end we were in the middle cheering our hearts out."

Anchor Singleton had a big day. She had the pleasure of not only finishing off the winning 4x200, but also the 4x400 relay.

"She's only a sophomore but she is a tough competitor," said Comeau. "There is no one I would rather have running an anchor leg right now."

Singleton teamed with Laura Cody, Kayley Pettoruto and Colleen Shannon to take the latter relay in 1:45.77, setting a school record.

"I was pretty nervous and it relaxed me to know the other girls were nervous too," said Singleton. "You have to judge the race and not go out too crazy. You have to pace yourself and be able to adjust."