Janicki Gets Victory When Challenger Gets Lost

Don Janicki couldn’t have had an easier time placing first in Sunday’s Coronado Bridge 6.5-mile run. There was no threat after the second-place runner took a wrong turn with just over a mile to go.

While Janicki was en route to winning in 32 minutes 19 seconds, Tony Niemczak, who finished second at 33:04, was having trouble just finding the finish in Balboa Park. As a matter of fact, Niemczak even had a difficult time getting to the start in Coronado.

Niemczak, a top marathoner from Poland, was some 100 yards behind Janicki when he rounded Fifth Avenue onto Fir Street near the race’s end. No problem, really. But then Niemczak, who couldn’t see which way the pace truck and Janicki turned from Fir onto Sixth Avenue, hesitated for a moment while wondering which way the course went.

Did it go left, or right? Niemczak didn’t know.

“I had to round two corners close together, so I lost Janicki,” Niemczak said. “There was a guy who was supposed to be guiding us, but he was looking up in the sky. I decided to turn and run down hill and I started running really fast because I thought I could catch the leader.”

Except for one thing. The leader was going to other way.

Niemczak didn’t realize his error until a bystander shouted at him that Balboa Park was “that way.” She pointed in the opposite direction.

So Niemczak did an about-face only to see Matt Clayton, who had been 300 yards behind Niemczak before Fir Street, 100 yards ahead.

“But I told myself,” Niemczak said, “you must catch him because today you are the better runner.”

In the end, Niemczak managed to overtake Clayton--but with just three seconds to spare. Clayton finished in third at 33:07.

Niemczak made up so much ground after turning uphill that he likely would have given Janicki at least a scare had he not made that wrong turn.

Even Janicki seemed to think so.

“It (the victory) is a bit shallow knowing the second-place runner went off the course,” he said.

But Niemczak would hear none of that.

“No, I don’t agree,” he said. “Today Don was in better shape; he ran easier.”

Still, Niemczak was pleased with his race. After all, just two days before, he ran 15 miles. During the week, he logged 80 miles in training for the Columbus Marathon on Nov. 11. And besides, Niemczak wasn’t even sure he would get into town in time. He lost the airplane ticket sent to him by race organizers.

He got here after booking passage on a different flight. He didn’t realize it would have been a good idea to tell organizers about the switch until he arrived at the airport.

“I landed in San Diego and there was nobody to pick me up,” Niemczak said.

Not knowing where to turn, Niemczak, who speaks with a heavy Polish accent, spotted someone at the baggage claim whom he thought looked like a runner and might help him out. He struck a conversation with Greg Griffin, an Escondido resident who competes in triathlons.

He also talked his way into staying with Griffin.

“He told me his story, and I just figured athletes have to stick together,” Griffin said.

“I must thank Greg,” Niemczak said. “He let me stay at his place overnight, and we both got up (Sunday) morning at 5 and he drove me down here.”

There was no elite women’s field. Beth Ellickson of Safford, Ariz., finished first in 40:27.

Race organizers said approximately 6,000 runners were expected to compete, although the field appeared to fall somewhat short of that.