Everyone agrees that the Blair Blazers were not very good during the 2006 indoor and outdoor track seasons, but they could tell it was the beginning of something good. 2006 is when Louis Varella, Jonathan Haughton, Chris Grindley, Enuma Nzesi, and Keith Ayensu all joined the team. Mohammad Mansaray and Kingsley Asare later joined the original group. 2006 is also when Ralph Penn joined the Blazers and started turning things around. Drawing on years of experience coaching cross country and track at Columbia Union College, Penn took on the new challenge of developing a pack of young, unmotivated teens into a team of strong young men who motivate one another on and off the track. What they developed into was more than anyone could have imagined. They are now one of the strongest sprinting teams Montgomery County has ever seen, and they have hurdlers, throwers, distance runners, and a strong girls team to go along with it.

Get to know some of this year's Blair Blazers before they attempt to make this year's state championship one for the record books.

Name: Coach Ralph Penn Hometown: Philadelphia Coaching Experience: Three years coaching sprints at Blair. 15 years coaching Division II track and cross country at Columbia Union College in Takoma Park Athletic Experience: Track & Field in high school and at Penn State University. Specialty in the 400-meter run and hurdles Favorite Musical Artist: Miles Davis / John Coltrane

Name: Louis Varella Class: 2008 Events at States: 400, 4x2, 4x4 Experience: Began track sophomore year Titles: Montgomery County and 4A West 400m Champ Favorite Music: Hip Hop / R&B

Name: Jonathan Haughton Class: 2009 From: Born in Jamaica, moved to US at age 2 Events at States: 200, 4x1, 4x2, 4x4 Experience: Began track freshman year Titles: Montgomery County and 4A West 200m Champ Other Sports: Football Favorite Musical Artist: Lil Wayne

Name: Keith Ayensu Class: 2009 Experience: Began track freshman year From: PG County originally, moved to Ghana at age 2, moved back at age 7 Middle School: Parkland Other Sports: Football Favorite Musical Artist: Nas

Name: Enuma Nzesi Class: 2008 Events at States: 4x4 Experience: Began track sophomore year Other Sports: Football Middle School: Silver Spring Int'l Favorite Musical Artist: Lil Wayne

Name: Chris Grindley Class: 2009 Events at States: 4x1, 4x2, 4x4 Experience: Began track freshman year Other Sports: Football Middle School: Parkland Favorite Musical Artist: Lil Wayne

Name: Kingsley Asare Class: 2008 Events at States: 100, 4x1 Experience: Began track this season Other Sports: Football Middle School: Sligo/Eastern Favorite Musical Artist: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony