When the UCF men's cross country team lines up at the start for the NCAA Regional in mid-November, most spectators and athletes will be ignorant of an underlying competition - one between two teammates wearing Black and Gold.
It's no secret for those acquainted with seniors Brent and Ryan White. The twin brothers, who took up running after being cut from their baseball team in junior high, enjoy a bit of friendly competition.
"They are fiery competitors," said UCF head coach Marcia Mansur-Wentworth. "They are competitive with their teammates and opposing runners. It really motivates them in workouts and on race day."
Brent and Ryan came to UCF as freshman in 2003 and immediately stepped into the lineup.
"We always wanted to go somewhere that we could both compete and contribute," said Brent. "It was important to get the opportunity to run right away rather than have to earn our way into the lineup later on."
During their first campaign, Brent bested Ryan in the first two meets before Ryan finished three spots ahead of his brother at Georgia Bulldog Invitational. Brent held the advantage that year and made the Golden Knights' lineup at the NCAA Regional.
As a sophomore, Ryan closed the gap and finished ahead of Brent in both the Atlantic Sun Championship and the NCAA Regional.
"We tend to alternate in the lineup," said Brent. "One of us will raise the bar a little bit and the other one doesn't want to get left behind."
"Last year, I won four times and he won three times," Ryan interjected.
When Brent quickly pointed out that he beat his sibling in the first two meets this year, it was very obvious that they keep a close tally. "We know what's up," said Ryan with a smile.
Indeed, the Whites have been a cornerstone in the Golden Knights' lineup since their arrival. As juniors, they duo was instrumental in the team's fourth place finish as UCF made its inaugural Conference USA Championship. This year they helped the men's squad achieve a program-best No. 10 ranking in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association South Region Poll.
"Last year was really their breakthrough year for Brent and Ryan. They capped it off by racing well at conference," said Mansur-Wentworth. "They returned this season even more motivated and had strong performances in the opening meet. They have come a long way as runners in the four years that they have been at UCF."
The duo has achieved much in their four-year careers. Both are listed among UCF's top times in the 8K as Brent ran a personal-best of 25:43.68 and Ryan posted a personal record of 25:47.52 at the 2005 Gator Invitational. In track during the spring, Brent earned Atlantic Sun All-Conference honors in 2005 when he finished third in the 1500m and also won the 3,000m event at the 2006 Bulldog Limited. Ryan has garnered conference all-academic honors in the past.
Despite all the pair has accomplished, there are goals that they would like to attain before leaving the Golden Knights.
"Our goal was at least third at conference this year and we definitely want to break into the top 10 at the regional meet," said Brent, who like his brother is majoring in civil engineering.
Both believe that the goal is attainable thanks to talented freshman like John Horst and transfers like Matt Clements and Dustin Hicks, who has finished No. 1 for UCF throughout the season. "I think that this is definitely the best overall team we've had," said Ryan. "We've had good athletes on the team before but never a squad like this, where our top five or six runners finish so close to each other."
No doubt that whether Brent or Ryan crosses the finish line first at the NCAA Regional in Knoxville, Tenn. that they other won't be far behind.