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. If you have 7, get them to the line. If you only have 3...get them to the line. Your region may be depending on you.
Region I: It looks like this Region will advance three Class AA teams and three Class A teams. The three for Class AA is pretty solid, but in Class A, there are 7 potentials, but a few of them are a little shaky. One of them can drop off, but not two. In Class AA, Fairmont Senior appears to be well out ahead of the field. I have Philip Barbour in the 2nd spot with Frankfort 10 points behind them. East Fairmont is only 8 points behind Frankfort, so they'll certainly be in the mix. Regardless, there is going to be a very good Class AA team staying home. In Class A, Ritchie is well ahead of the field. I show St. Marys a single point ahead of Tyler Consolidated for the 2nd spot with no other Class A team close to those three. If only two advance, it could be quite a fight for that spot. Individually, I'm projecting that 23 will advance. The current top 23 are Caleb Carlson, Tavian Richardson, Noah Ward, Spencer Corley, Thomas Stalnaker, Eathan Kincell, Nathan Atkinson, Caleb Campbell, Zachary Dalonges, Clayton Bee, Trevor Saunders, Kent Bee, Tyler Chanllell, Carter Saunders, Ryan Zirk, Logan Zuchelli, Brady Layman, Jarrett Allendar, Benjamin Ridgel, Tyler Hayes, Alex Morris, Dominic Tanouye, and Gabe Arevalo. Runners within 60 points of the top 23 who are not on an expected qualifying team are Madonna's Angelo Quattrocci (34th) and North Marion's Michael Garrett (35th). There are 57 ranked runners in Region I.
Region II: This Region will likely advance three Class AA teams and two Class A teams. In Class AA, Bridgeport is the class of the field. Braxton appears to have a solid grasp on the 2nd position. I have Elkins in the 3rd spot, but Lewis within 10 points of them and Robert C. Byrd another 11 back. In Class A, Doddridge appears to be well ahead of the field. Tucker appears the most likely to take the 2nd position. Individually, I'm projecting 16 to advance. The current top 16 are Carter Lipscomb, Jackson Jacobs, Samuel Starkey, Cade Robinson, Jacob Moore, Logan Carr, Trent Gola, Gage Smith, Kaleb Brown, Trey Martin, Bryan Utt, Clint Evans, Adin Post, Landon Burns, Chase Ammons, and Cole Garvin. Runners within 60 points of the top 16 who aren't on an expected advancing team are Liberty Harrison's Bryce Miller (18th) and Pendleton's Joe Boucher (23rd). There are 37 ranked runners in Region II.
Region III: It looks like this Region will advance four Class AA teams and two Class A teams. In order to get four in Class AA, every team that can field five must do so, but it appears that most of the teams are pretty solid in their numbers, so one would really have to drop the ball to mess it up. In Class AA, Nicholas looks to be well ahead of the field. Wyoming East appears to have a pretty solid grip on the 2nd spot. I show a tie for the 3rd spot between Herbert Hoover and Shady Spring. I have Oak Hill easily in reach of them, so they should be in the mix. In Class A, I have Charleston Catholic in the top spot, but they're the only team in Class A that has a ranked runner in this Region. That means that I have the other teams in a three way tie. So, I'm just going to go with what I've observed from results (going from memory, so it certainly may be faulty) and say Richwood for the 2nd spot. Individually, I'm projecting 21 to advance. The current 21 are Preston Prather, Caleb Siders, Seth Crosier, Lavon McClarrin, Dylan Repass, Jacob Ellison, Elijah Lanagan, Logan Kelbaugh, Logan Vance, Riley Nicholas, Korbin Taylor, Alex Fennell, Ethan Board, Mason Harp, Grey Hazuka, Dalton Blake, Jared Sandy, Devan Lawson, Logan Keaton, Jacob Bowman, and Colton Testerman. Runners within 60 points of the top 21 are Liberty Raleigh's A.J. Williams (25th) and PikeView's Tyler Meadows (26th). There are 26 ranked runners in Region III.
Region IV: It looks like this Region will advance two Class AA teams and two Class A teams. In Class AA, Winfield is clearly the class of the field. The second spot is much closer with Nitro holding the edge for the position over Point Pleasant. In Class A, Ravenswood is clearly in front. The 2nd spot is again much closer as I have just 6 points separating the next 3. The problem is the each of them has just a single ranked runner, which means that whoever has the top #1 is favored for the spot since that data isn't there for any of the #2 through #5 runners. In this case, that means the favorite for the position is Buffalo. Individually, I'm projecting 14 to advance. The current top 14 are Aaron Withrow, Bryce Jarrell, Matthew Scheneberg, Blake Jarrell, Luke Wilson, Brian Middaugh, Deshone Cooper, Jordon Thompson, Malachi Woods, Will Whaley, Matt Duncan, Marshall Villers, Colin Simmons, and Dawson Winsett. Runners within 60 points of the top 14 that aren't on an expected advancing team. Lincoln County's Jackson Sanders (15th), Wirt's A.J. Petrovsky (18th), and Wayne's Zach Basenback (20th). There are 22 ranked runners in Region IV.