Remember, this is only how it looks from the rankings heading into the regionals. This is not a prediction based on any analysis of races held during the season. If a team has fewer than five ranked runners, it is assumed that their first unranked runner would finish three places behind the last ranked runner, their second unranked runner would finishe six places behind the last ranked runner, etc. Runners run above and below their ranking in every meet, and the Regionals will be no different. The important thing is that if you have five runners, get them to the starting line. Your region may be depending on you.
Region I: This Region should advance three teams. Morgantown is again the very strong favotire. University looks to have a very solid grip on the 2nd position. The third spot should be quite a battle between Preston and Parkersburg with Parkersburg South also being a factor. I show Preston with a 4 point advantage over Parkersburg for the spot. Parkersburg has greater depth, and therefore more room for error. Individually, the current top 10 includes Amelia Paladino, Kaitlyn Workman, Abbey Harrison, Sydney Pineault, Victoria Cooke, Allison Lynch, Hannah Pineault, Sarah Wills, Skylar Brooks, and Andrea Pettit. Runners within 90 points of the top 10 who aren't on an expected advancing team that will be trying to take an individual spot include Parkersburg's Rachel Morris (12th), Parkersburg South's Ally McCulley (13th), and Parkersburg South's Allison Currey (15th). Region I shows 55 ranked runners.
Region II: This Region should advance 3 teams. Hampshire and Jefferson will likely battle for the top spot and be well clear of the rest of the field. I show Hampshire winning by 6 points. The real battle will be for the 3rd spot, where I have 3 teams within 3 points of each other. I have Musselman and Buckhannon-Upshur tied for the final spot with Buckhannon-Upshur getting the nod on the tie-breaker. I have Washington just 3 points behind them putting this spot very much up for grabs. Elkins isn't completely out of the picture either. Individually, the current top 10 includes Abby Colbert, Morgan Roach, Ashleigh Martin, Destiny Harrison, Rachel Lipps, Mary Feaster, Anya Wallace, Emma Lindberg, Catrina Russell, and Maddy Trucks. There is only one runner within 90 points of the top 10 who is not on an expected advancing team who will be looking to snag an individual spot, and that is Musselman's Kayla Hoffmaster (11th). Region II has 29 ranked runners.
Region III: This Region may advance three teams. I show 7 teams that have run complete squads this year. That provides a little wiggle room for one team not to make it to the line. I have Capital taking the top spot with Greenbrier East in the 2nd position. A close battle for 3rd shows Ripley over George Washington by just 2 points. That will be the two teams hoping Oak Hill toes the line. Shady Spring isn't completely out fo the picture either. Individually, the current top ten includes Peyton Panger, Emily Fedders, Mary Keeton Lane, Riley Simmerman, Rowan Maher, Adrienne Arnold, Shaye Gadomski, Nicole Hegele, Lauren Lindsey, and Haley Ford. Runners within 90 points of the top ten and not on an expected advancing team are Shady Spring's Courtney Cook (11th) and Princeton's Taylor Hamm (13th). Region III has 21 ranked runners.
Region IV: This Region should also advance three teams. 7 have run complete teams during the season. Hurricane and Winfield will fight for the top spot with Hurricane showing a small advantage. Cabell Midland looks to be very solidly in the 3rd position. Individually, the current top 10 includes Tori Dent, Brittney McMillion, Joie Johnston, Anna Gordon, Rachael Englund, Alyssa Rittinger, Barkley Castro, Abby Short, Krissy Rich, and Darian Wikel. There is only one runner within 90 points of the top 10 who is not on an expected advancing team that will be fighting for an individual spot. That runner is St. Albans' Rachel Beck (14th). There are 35 ranked runners in Region IV.