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 to five places behind the last ranked runner, their second unranked runner would finishe six to ten 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. University should be well out in front of the field. Morgantown should have a pretty solid grip on the 2nd spot. Parkersburg should easily take the 3rd spot. I have the 4th team a full 60 points behind Parkersburg. Individually, I'm projecting that 11 runners should advance. The current top 11 is Seth Edwards, Anthony Laurita, Alex Minor, Tristan Harvey, Connor Riley, Nic Cheuvront, Phillip White, Antonio Pizzuti, Clay Thorn, Shawn Strosnider, and Evan Wooten and Jacob Jacquez are tied for the 11th spot. Runners within 60 points of the top 11 who are not on an expected advancing team who will be trying to take one of the individual spots are Wheeling Park's Jarred Biehl (tied for 16th) and Wheeling Park's Cameron Eberhard (tied for 16th). There are 47 ranked runners in Region I.
Region II: This Region may advance four teams. For that to happen, both Hedgesville and Buckhannon-Upshur will have to get five runners to the line. Buckhannon-Upshur hasn't run a complete team since September 9th. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt for this preview. Musselman appears to have a slight advantage in what should be a three team race. I have just 11 points separating Musselman, Elkins, and Jefferson, who I show in the top 3 spots in that order. I have Hampshire in the 4th spot. I'm projecting 13 boys to advance from this Region. The current top 13 are Shane Rigsby, Matt Wallace, Jared Hallow, Daniel Beavers, Dylan Stamper, Dalton Hamrick, Colin Hayes, Losh Leake, Nick Whitehair, Mason Clark, Jonathan Royster, Kendall Coles, and Shawn Hogbin. Runners within 60 points of the top 13 that aren't on an expected advancing team that will be trying to steal a spot are Lewis' Nathan Louk (15th), and Washington's Ethan May (24th). There are 31 ranked runners in Region II.
Region III: It looks like this Region will advance three teams. I show Ripley with a slight edge over Capital for the top spot. Oak Hill appears to have a slight edge for 3rd. I project 12 individuals advancing from this Region. The current top 12 are Cody Gillespie, Michael Ruhnke, Dalton Fisher, Antonio Jones, Chad Hollandsworth, Nick Kennedy, Joe Schwartz, Remington Boyce, Samuel Thomas, Levi Phillips, Jacob Ashcraft, and Josh Greear. Those within 60 points of the top 12 that aren't on an expected advancing team that hope to snare an individual spot are Woodrow Wilson's Ryan Vaught (13th) and Riverside's Cecil Dean (15th). There are 15 ranked runners in Region III.
Region IV: This Region should advance three teams. Cabell Midland appears to be the class of the field with Hurricane standing an easy 2nd. Winfields looks to have a pretty solid grasp on the 3rd position. I'm projecting 11 runners to advance from this Region. The current top 11 are R.J. Weiford, Nick Salmons, Jake Henley, Alex Hughes, Josh Minor, Coy Smith, Brandon Atkinson, Jonathan Hathaway, Jeremiah Parlock, Jonathan Sandy, and Sam Hughes. Within 60 points of the top 11 that aren't on an expected advancing team that will try to take one of the individual spots is St. Albans' Josh Endres (14th). There are 32 ranked runners in Region IV.