Boardman's Lape twins are double trouble in their field

The brothers, who are juniors, are the one-two punch for the Spartan team.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Rick and Jake Lape were members of the 4x800-meter relay team that placed seventh for Boardman in a school record time of 7 minutes, 55.35 seconds at the Division I state track meet last spring.
Twin brothers, they are juniors for the Spartans. Rick (16:18) and Jake (16:23) are fourth and fifth, respectively, among the area's fastest cross country runners this season.
Slowed by injury
Rick won't be running for awhile because he has a metatarsal stress fracture.
"We caught it before he broke his foot," said Boardman coach Dave Pavlansky.
He should be ready to run for the Spartans as they defend their Suburban League title Sept. 20 at 4:30 p.m. at the Canfield Fairgrounds.
Jake finished first at last Saturday's East Palestine Rotary Invitational in 16:56.
"When Jake and Rick were in junior high, they would sneak into Boardman High and run in the hallway with our varsity team," said Pavlansky. "They are a lot of fun to coach and love to run."
Winter workout program
Jake said, "During the winter Rick and I are in a program called Bigger, Faster, Stronger. We go into the weight room to build up strength with 10, 12, 15, 25 pound dumbells and do squats with 350 pounds."
Throughout the year the twins get up at 7 a.m. to run and they repeat it at 6 p.m.
"We run seven days a week, doing five miles each day and 10 on Sundays," said Jake.
They run side by side talking.
"I set the pace at a meet and the next time Rick sets the pace," said Jake. "We switch off when running. I take the lead at 800 meters or a mile, then Rick does the same."
Just missed state trip
Jake said he missed going to state last year by three seconds and that he wants to go there this season and finish in the top 25.
"We'll both be trying to run 5Ks under 15 minutes," said Jake. Our school record is 15:59."
"Our team has seven strong runners and we are going to try and repeat as league champs," he added. "After that, hopefully the team can make it to state, try to compete with our best effort and see where that takes us."
The twins come from a running family. Their brother Bob was captain of the Boardman 2000 team.
They plan to compete in indoor track meets to prepare for the 2006 season.