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 finish 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. If you have seven, get them to the line. Your region may be depending on you.
Region I: This Region should advance four teams. They could end up with as many as 13 complete teams. Berkeley Springs sits at the top of the rankings, but that is with Amanda Lupton, who hasn't competed since 9/26. If she's out, they are likely not the favorite, but would still be expected to advance. Philip Barbour has the 2nd spot. East Fairmont has a slim edge over Fairmont Senior for the 3rd position. St. Marys and North Marion could factor in but will need big time performances across the board to do so as they appear to be roughly 30 points out. Individuall, my best guess is that 18 will advance. The current top 18 are Jessica Melvin, Erykah Christopher, Kierra Hodge, Belle Harvey, Gwynn Napier, Corinna Strietbeck, Sophia Tomana, Amanda Lupton (who hasn't competed since 9/26), Stephanie Golden, Brooke Davison, Jay Cee Everson, Mackenzie Stanley, Carlina Jacquez, Emma Eickleberry, Olga Hawranick, Jessie Higgins, Olivia Frye, and Jahvni Duncan. If Lupton is out, Alex Banks would be next in line. Runners within 60 points of the top 18 who aren't on an expected advancing team are North Marion's Autumn Llaneza (20th), Frankfort's Abby Beeman (21st), Oak Glen's Kennedy Quinlan (22nd), North Marion's Ryan Frye (23rd) and St. Marys' Bralynn Davis (24th). This Region is extremely deep with 57 ranked runners and 5 of the top 10 ranked teams.
Region II: This Region should advance three teams. There are 8 teams in the field that have run complete teams during the season. Bridgeport looks to be firmly at the top of the field. Doddridge looks to have a solid grip on 2nd. The battle for 3frd should be between Elkins and Robert C. Byrd. The rankings show Elkins with a narrow advantage. Individually, I'm projecting 13 to advance. The current top 13 are Desirae Schoonover, Julia Muller, Alexis Morici, Emma Campbell, Emily Louk, Adelle Thrush, Jaklin Schoonover, Brooke Bennett, Janna Soltesz, Brooke Wagner, Emily Saurborn, Allison Hess, and Sydney Keith. Runners within 60 points of the top 13 who aren't on an expected advancing team are Liberty Harrison's Hannah Moore (14th) and Roane's Silken Harlen (16th). There are 37 ranked runners in Region II.
Region III: It looks like this Region may advance four teams. For that to happen, every team that ran complete at any point during the season will have to do so on Thursday. That makes it a pretty precarious four as two of them appear to only have five runners and another hasn't ran as a complete team since 9/12 and another hasn't ran as a complete team in its last two meets. I'm going on the assumption that it will happen. Nicholas County sits at the top of the list. Charleston Catholic isn't far behind in 2nd. Oak Hill appears to have the edge for 3rd. The rankings have Richwood in 4th, but with them and every other remaining team having 2 ranked runners, much falls to the unranked runners to determine things. Individually, I'm projecting 16 to advance. The current top 16 are Erin O'Sullivan, Caitlin Cowell, Aubrie Custer, Lucianna Martin, Baylee Adkins, Taylor Wills, Erin Hoyer, Alyssa Woods, Alexa Hawkins, Michaela O'Dell, Brook Athey, Bree Moll, Courtney Smith, Lacey Beam, Alyssa Wells, and Amelia Bard. Runners within 60 points of the top 16 and not on an expected advancing team are Westside's Britney Cochran (17th), Clay's Madelyn Kilpatrick (18th), and Wyoming East's Rileigh Mullins (20th). There are 24 ranked runners in Region III.
Region IV: It looks like this Region will advance three teams. It's a shaky three, though. There are 7 that have ran as complete teams during the season, but there are four that appear to only have 5 runners. Of those, one hasn't ran a complete team since 8/26. Another hasn't ran a complete team since 9/6. Another has only ran a complete team once and only had two runners in each of their last two meets. Still another team that has 6 on its roster has only ran a complete team once. I'm guessing that enough will come through to get three to advance. Winfield and Williamstown are clearly the top two in the field with Winfield being shown with a slight 4 point advantage. The 3rd spot appears to be a battle between Buffalo and Sissonville with Buffalo getting the spot by just 2 points. Individually, I'm projecting 12 to advance. The current top 12 are Ella Hesson, Madi Michels, Savannah Hoff, McKenzie Moran, Kasey McNamara, Sydney Smith, Anna Lumadue, Clara Blankenship, Emer Carrington, Emilee Ellison, Maggie Bennett, and Danielle Jividen. Michels and Moran haven't competed since 9/28. Hoff and Lumadue haven't competed since 9/30. There are no runners within 60 points of the top 12 that aren't on an expected advancing team. The closest is Point Pleasant's Allison Henderson (15th). There are 25 ranked runners in Region IV.