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 finish 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. If you can come up with 7, get them on the line. Your region may be depending on you.
Region I: This Region should advance three teams. However, one of those typically only has 5 runners, so if for some reason, they don't get five to the line, only two teams will advance from this region. Another of the teams has only ran 4 and 6 in their last two meets. But for purposes of this preview, I'm assuming that they'll come through, and 3 will advance. University looks to be the best of the bunch in the field with Morgantown a very strong 2nd. Wheeling Park looks to have a fairly firm grip on the 3rd spot, with Preston likely needing an exceptional day to pull of advancement. Individually, only 10 will advance...a true travesty in this Region. The current top 10 are TaShala Turner, Zoe Shetty, Samantha Hatcher, Beighley Ayers, Peyton Kukura, Isabella DiSaia, Caroline Kirby, Avigail Radabaugh, Myah McAlister, and Emma Williams. There is actually no one that is within 60 points of these 10 that are not on an expected qualifying team. The closest is John Marshall's Zara Zervos (14th). There are 47 ranked runners in Region I. The 20th ranked runner in this Region would be ranked in the top 4 of two of the other Regions.
Region II: This Region should also advance 3 teams. Everyone that has ran complete this year will need to do so, but they've been pretty consistent about it. Hampshire certainly appears to have this one well in hand with 5 of the top 6 ranked runners in the Region (maybe 5 of 7 - I dropped a runner from the rankings this week due to inactivity, but I've been told that she did run at the EPAC Championships, for which I did not receive girls results). Jefferson and Musselman appear to have the 2nd and 3rd positions. Musselman would move up to 2nd if I am able to re-insert the deleted runner back into the rankings. Individuall, only 10 will advance. The current top 10 are Hannah Lipps, Blake Hull, Jayden Judy, Kelsey Mowery, Danielle Davis, Catherine Wylie, Jessie Dailey, Morgan May (who hasn't ran since September 16th), Hailee Reinke, and Taylor Blanchette. The deleted runner, Aleynah Miller, would be in that top 10 if she is reinstated to the rankings. Runners within 60 points of the top 10 who aren't on an expected advancing team are Spring Mills' Sada Braithwaite (11th) and Martinsburg's Janette Salvador (13th). There are 26 ranked runners in Region II.
Region III: This Region should advance 3 teams. There are two teams that only have 5 runners. At least one of the two will have to have 5 on the line in order to advance 3. Woodrow Wilson appears to have a pretty solid grip on the top spot. I show Greenbrier East edging George Washington for the 2nd spot. Individually, only 10 will advance. The current top 10 are Olivia Ward, Maddy Childs, Grace Henley, Cami Wagner, Katherine Sutton, Alex Humphrey (who hasn't ran since 9/23), Julianna Holiday, Caroline Holliday, Gillian Breeden, and Tori Parks. There is only one runner within 60 points of the top 10 that is not on an expected advancing team. That is Capital's Emma Magee (11th). If Humphrey is out, Magee moves into the top 10. There are 18 ranked runners in Region III.
Region IV: This Region should advance three teams. Parkersburg appears to be the team to beat. However, Madison Trippett missed the MSAC Championships with a leg injury. If she is still out, Cabell Midland probably moves to the top spot. However, their top ranked runner hasn't ran since 9/23. So that could even things out. I've scored it with both running, and that has Parkersburg in the top spot with Cabell Midland 2nd, and Ripley holding off Hurricane for the 3rd spot. Individually, only 10 will advance. The current top 10 are Victoria Starcher, Olivia Collett, Madison Trippett, Abby Herring, Winnie Mayes, Anya Miller (who hasn't ran since 9/23), Ellie Dario, Jadyn Casto, Danielle Ray, and Brynn Smith. There is only one runner within 60 points of that top 10 who isn't on an expected advancing team. That is Hurricane's Alexis Imperial (14th). If Trippett and Miller are out, Gretchen Mills and Jessica Salmons move into those top 10 spots. There are 47 ranked runners in Region IV. The 16th ranked runner in this Region would be ranked in the top 4 in two other Regions.