Brent Ayer is one of the top runners in Frederick history, and he has used that success as a runner to establish a solid foundation for Hood's men's and women's cross country and track and field programs. After starting with just six athletes in 2003, the programs have grown to over 30 runners due to Ayer's relentless drive and determination.

Both programs have shown continued improvement under Ayer's direction. The 2007 season was highlighted by school-record setting individual performances in regular season meets. Danielle Sgro lowered the junior 6K record while two of the five records were rewritten on the men's side.

For the fourth year in a row the Blazer women's squad was named an NCAA Division III All-Academic Team by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA), and the men's team earned its first selection as well in 2006.

Ayer's commitment to the sport extends beyond Hood College, as he serves as the president of the Road Runners Club of America in 2008-09. He was honored by the RRCA with the President's Award at the RRCA National Awards Banquet March 11, 2006 in Houston. The President's Award is a prestigious honor that acknowledges the service to the RRCA and the sport of running by a dedicated individual. Ayer received the award for his significant service to the RRCA when he stepped in and voluntarily handled the affairs of the RRCA National Office during a time of organizational transition.

In addition to his duties as head cross country coach, Ayer has also served as Hood's head men's and women's track and field coach since the inception of both programs in March 2004. After guiding the programs through two years at the club level, Ayer's efforts were rewarded when track and field was elevated to varsity status for the 2007 season.

Ayer, who holds USATF Level II Endurance Coaches Certification, won numerous awards and honors during his collegiate running career and held the records for every distance from one mile to the marathon competitions at Frederick Community College. His career bests include a 31:23 6-mile; a 2:36:38:0 marathon; and a 6:19:10:0 50-mile. Ayer has finished 17 marathons and three ultra-marathons. He was named a Masters All-America for the 3000-meter steeplechase in 1999 and the 3000-meter run in 2001 and Runner of the Year by Frederick's Steeplechasers Running Club in 1994.

In May 2008, Ayer was elected President of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), an association of 920 running clubs and events from around the nation. As distance coach of the Frederick Striders Track and Field Club since 2000, Ayer has guided athletes to two national championships at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics. Of the athletes he's coached, 15 have been national qualifiers, 30 regional qualifiers and 12 state champions. In addition, he serves on a number of committees for USA Track & Field, the Olympic governing body of the sport.

Ayer is a graduate of Lewis University, where he briefly held the record for the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He holds a master's degree from Frostburg State University and has worked as a staff member for the United States House of Representatives for the past 29 years. He also writes training advice sections for the on-line versions of Running Times Magazine and the Frederick News-Post.

Ayer is married to Mary Catherine Keegan and they, and their three children, reside in Frederick, Md.

Having compiled an impressive running and coaching background at numerous institutions on the East Coast, Scott Rippeon came on board as an assistant cross country and track coach at Hood in 2003.

The Frederick, Md., native qualified for the 1985 and 1986 NCAA Division III National Cross Country meet as a member of the Washington and Lee University squad. Since his graduation in 1988 from the Virginia school, he began his coaching career at All Saints Cathedral School in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, where he helped start the program in 1989 following Hurricane Hugo.

After a five-year stint at the Tower Hill School in Wilmington, Del., where he led the girl's cross country team to the 1993 state Independent School Conference championship, Rippeon came back to the area and founded the boy's cross country program at Urbana High School in 1996. Two years later, he began another program, this time at St. John's at Prospect Hall, and, in 2002 was named Coach of the Year by The Frederick News-Post and The Gazette (Frederick) for leading the girl's cross country team to the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Division title. He is now employed with Frederick County Public Schools and will be coaching exclusively at Hood.

Rippeon, who ran on the prep level at nearby Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, is certified as a USATF Level I and Level II Distance and Level II Sprints coach. He is also an RRCA certified coach and is a USATF Official (Association Level).