Runners and twins Owen and Kyle Dawson are known for being the quietest individuals on the track team. Teammates and coaches say they only break their silence when engaged in conversation.

However, their work ethic and accomplishments aren't as low key.

The Dawsons, natives of Downingtown, were recruited from Coatesville High School last year after distinguished high school careers that included their cross country team winning the state and national championship.

Growing up, the current Penn State freshmen were close with each other but also competitive. When they were younger they always played sports together and mountain biked. Every sport they played turned into a competition against each other. Their mother, Jane, said Kyle often told her they are competitive because of their age.

"We got bored when were younger," Owen said. "We would just go outside and do as much as possible. We competed in everything we did. We were always trying to outdo each other."

The fraternal twins are rarely ever confused for each other, as Owen is taller by a wide margin -- 6-foot-3 to Kyle's 5-foot-7. Owen is also an hour-and-a-half older and he sometimes tries ending an argument by telling his twin, "I'm older."

He's also been the first Dawson brother to register a strong performance for the Nittany Lions, holding the team's fourth-best time in the mile and the fifth-best time in the 800-meter. Kyle has redshirted this season because of unspecified medical reasons.

The brothers began running in track in seventh grade, primarily because their sister Meghan ran track. Jane said the brothers played soccer but wanted to try something else.

Their track careers took them to the championships, something the brothers are very proud of.

"After we won nationals, it felt like everything we ever worked for, we accomplished," Owen said. "It was cool because we're brothers and we've been racing with each other for so long.

"It just made it cool."

Kyle said winning the national championships was probably the greatest thing he's accomplished, and his favorite moment with Owen was winning the national championship.

When deciding on what schools to apply to, they considered Penn State and Tennessee. They never really thought much about attending the same school and it just happened that way, Owen said.

The two toured University Park during a chilly January day and watched the team practice. Afterward, they grabbed lunch with their future teammates.

"The campus is pretty big, but it wasn't intimidating," Kyle said. "I actually liked the size because I came from a big high school and wanted to go to a big college."

Teammate Teddy Quinn remembers meeting the twins on their first visit. He went for a run with them that Sunday morning before they left.

He also asked them questions about what they want to do with running and felt they would be great runners.

When it came time to decide, the brothers picked Penn State primarily because of the team and the program history.

Penn State coaches Beth Alford-Sullivan and John Gondak were happy when the Dawsons notified the coaches of their decision to attend Penn State. Getting two of the best athletes in the state was really good for the whole coaching staff, Gondak said.

"We tried really hard to recruit them," he said.

"They both had great success in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. When you can find athletes who are successful in all three, then they are exciting to have."

Gondak added the brothers have similar personalities. Both are quiet, but love competition and have a strong knowledge and interest in the sport.

Teammates and coaches also love the work ethic the two display.

"They just make sure they get all the extra stuff in," Quinn said. "They stay later at practice and put in all the little things."

Gondak called them ferocious competitors and said they train smarter than they did when they first arrived in the fall.

They know when to work hard and when not to push themselves, and that comes with their increasing maturity, he added.

Since arriving at school, the brothers have not had a difficult time adjusting to college life, other than the workload. There's a lot more studying than in high school, Owen said.

The brothers also room together, and Owen said they have shared a room together their whole lives, so it's a familiar atmosphere. They don't see each other too much during the day because they have different classes at different times.

At night, they hang out in their room and watch TV. They also spend time at the track house, where many of their teammates live together.

""Being with him [Owen] has made the transition to college easier," Kyle said.

"It makes it feel not different from home."