Seiger and Lapsansky: From Rivals to Dynamic Duo

Temple cross country seniors Kevin Lapsansky and Zach Seiger have spent the last four years as training partners, roommates, classmates, and best friends. Many would describe them as a dynamic duo. However, it has not always been this way. Both Seiger and Lapsansky were elite Pennsylvania distance runners for much of their high school careers. Lapsansky, an Easton High School alumnus, and Seiger, a Redland High School alumnus, spent their high school years competing for titles, medals, and even Division-1 offers.

"Kevin and I first met on the cross country course, where any good rivalry is born," Seiger said.

As freshmen and sophomores in high school, Seiger and Lapsansky frequently raced against each other but both were still emerging as elite talents and had little interaction with one another. The two were friendly but did not begin speaking regularly until their junior year, and the first real time they spent together was following a race that same year.

"We finished a race and cooled down together because we knew we were both looking at Temple," Lapsansky said. "It ended up being our first run of many, about 7,000 miles together now."

When they saw each other on the line, they always knew it would be a battle. At a Marque High School cross country race, there can be up to 400 athletes racing. What led to the rivalry is that they always found a way to be extremely close to each other on the results sheet. Cross country runners are frequently judged on 5K and the 3,200m, and Seiger and Lapsansky were within seconds of each other in both.

"They were always right around each other on the course and track," head cross country coach James Snyder said.

At the time of their recruitment, Temple cross country was rebuilding and struggling to post strong results. The two saw Temple finish sixth in 2014 and fourth in 2015 out of nine schools in conference.

"While I loved the school and coach Snyder, I was a little bit nervous about the success of the team," Seiger said. "Temple was rebuilding and the last thing I wanted was to have to train alone."

Lapsansky shared similar concerns.

"The biggest issue was the team not being the best," he said. "We knew we wanted to go somewhere and contribute immediately and not be a practice-only guy."

Both Lapsansky and Seiger acknowledged that the other played a big role in their commitment, and immediately told each other when they committed. They got to spend spring of their senior year as future teammates while competing against each other.

"Once we both committed to Temple, our rivalry became more of an 'I want to be faster than my future roommate,' type of rivalry," Lapsansky said.

"Before we even committed, coach Snyder joked about putting us in a room together," added Seiger. "So when we were both locked in, it was a no brainer that we would live together."

The two have spent plenty of time reminiscing about being competitors in high school, but as current seniors they both share the same goal. When they made the choice to come to Temple, they had to commit to the potential of the program. It became their job to make these goals come to fruition.

"Zach and Kev saw us as a team that can make the national meet," said Snyder.

Having two elite athletes come to campus with lofty goals creates a huge shift in culture. Even as the youngest athletes on the team, Seiger and Lapsansky made clear that they meant business and they hoped everyone else did too. Both were immediate contributors to the men's scoring team, and there has been no looking back since.

The seniors have high praise for one another, and feed off one another. While their rivalry has faded, they still keep track of how often they beat the other.

"Kevin is an absolute grinder," Seiger said. "I've said many times that he is easily the most consistent guy that we have on the team and that comes from his work ethic."

During their freshman year, the two both had the opportunity to represent Temple at the USA Junior Cross Country Championship. As the race was in Oregon, the course was coated in snow and the temperatures were below freezing. The two suffered through to have strong performances, working together throughout the whole race.

Their careers have been incredibly successful thus far. Both have All-Conference and All-East honors, and Seiger also holds All-Region honors. In addition, both hold some of the best 5,000m times ever run in cherry and white. Even with all their impressive accomplishments, the attention turns to the 2019 fall cross country season where the Owls look to achieve what Seiger and Lapsansky came here to do: make the national meet.

Neither student-athlete wanted to put specific numbers to their goals for the year because they understand that goals will shift. They do know one thing: they are going to put everything they have into this season just like they have the past three. With the two seniors as contributing members of this team, they are a force to be reckoned with.

"At the end of the day, the chips are gonna fall where they fall," Seiger said. "But it's good to know that whatever line I end up toeing, Kevin will be lined up right next to me."

Temple University Athletics

Seiger and Lapsansky: From Rivals to Dynamic Duo

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