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 five places behind the last ranked runner, their second unranked runner would finishe 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 appears to have a pretty solid hold on the top spot. Morgantown and Parkersburg should battle for the 2nd spot. I show Morgantown with an 11 point advantage. No one else is close to these three. Individually, I'm projecting 11 individuals to advance. The current top 11 are Seth Edwards, Alex Minor, Connor Riley, Geandre Jones, Phillip White, Clay Thorn, John Gullion, Evan Wooten, Will Lemaster, Scott Barker, and Andrew Christy. There are no runners within 60 points that are not on an expected advancing team. The closest is Wheeling Park's Jarred Biehl (17th). There are 47 ranked runners in Region I.
Region II: This Region may advance four teams. For that to happen, Martinsburg will need to get 5 guys to the line. They haven't run a complete team since September 23rd, so it's not a given. For this projections, I'm going to say that they come through. Jefferson appears to have a pretty solid grip on the top spot. Musselman looks like they have a hold on the 2nd spot. Elkins looks like a solid 3rd. If a 4th team gets out, it gets closer. I show Hampshire getting that spot, but just by 2 points over Spring Mills. I am projecting 13 individuals to advance from this Region. The current top 13 are Daniel Beavers, Josh Leake, Colin Hayes, Dylan Stamper, Mason Clark, Samuel Garrett, Britt Dolly, Mason Young, Nathan Louk, Hunter Reed, Nick Whitehair, Bryson Dolly, and Ethan Stead. Runners within 60 points that aren't on an expected advancing team include Spring Mills' Travis Hoffman (14th), Martinsburg's Mitch Bartoldson (15th), Spring Mills' Zane Braithwaite (19th), Martinsburg's Josh Barnes (21st), and Washington's Ethan Eister (23rd). There are 38 ranked runners in Region II.
Region III: It looks like this Region will advance three teams. Woodrow Wilson appears to have a solid edge for the top spot. It gets closer after that with George Washington having the 2nd spot by just 7 points over Riverside. Ripley is just 9 points behind Riverside, so they could be a factor as well. Individually, I'm projecting 12 to advance. The current top 12 are Jonathan Sandy, Samuel Thomas, Josh Greear, Jacob Burakis, Nick Kennedy, Dalton Fisher, Miles Kominsky, Chris Barbera, Ryan Vaught, Cecil Dean, Andrew Barbera, and Matthew Martin. The only runner within 60 points of those 12 that aren't on an expected advancing team is Ripley's Remington Boyce (14th). There are 28 ranked runners in Region III.
Region IV: This Region should davnce three teams. Cabell Midland is clearly the top dog. Winfield appears to have an edge on Hurricane for the 2nd spot. I show an 11 point difference. No one else is close to these three. I project 12 individuals to advance from this Region. The current top 12 are Will Sheils, Nick Salmons, Jonathan Hathaway, Josh Minor, Austin Jordan, R.J. Weiford, Aaron Withrow, Jeremiah Parlock, Coy Smith, Josh Endres, Alex Hughes, and Mike Null. There are no runners within 60 points that aren't on an expected advancing team. The closest is St. Albans' Jeb Brady (17th). There are 37 ranked runners in Region IV.