Regional Preview - Class AAA Boys

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 finishe 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 have 7, get them to the line. If you only have 3, get them to the line. Your region may be depending on you.

AAA Boys

Region I: This Region should advance three teams. University looks to be tops in the field. It's much closer, and a little muddy, after that. I have Morgantown in 2nd and Wheeling Park in 3rd, but that is with Michael Hoefler in there for Morgantown. He hasn't competed since September 22nd. If he's out, then it moves Wheeling Park to 2nd and drops Morgantown to 3rd. Preston has a shot but needs to have a really good day or that someone else has a bad one as I show them 24 points behind a without-Hoefler Morgantown. Individually, only 10 will advance. The current top 10 are Josh Edwards, Ronnie Saunders, Jackson Core, Cole Friend, Nathaniel Edwards, Mikael Virji, Aiden Palmer, Trey Smith-Tatham, Michael Hoefler, and Quintin Thomas. If Hoefler is out, next in line is Rocco DeVincent. Runners within 60 points of the top 10 (I'll use DeVincent at 10th for this) not on an expected advancing team are Buckhannon-Upshur's Samuel Walker (14th), John Marshall's Mack Allen (T16th), John Marshalls' Anthony Siler (T16th), and Preston's Daniel Barker (22nd). There are 48 ranked runners in Region I.

Region II: This Region shouls also advance three teams. I have this one being very close. I show Musselman winning it by just 2 points over Hampshire. I have Spring Mills in the 3rd spot just another 9 points back. Jefferson should be in the mix as well, as I have them just 7 points behind Spring Mills. Individually, 10 will advance. The current top 10 are Chris Lucas, Andrew Dorsey, Nathan Starkey, Travis Hoffman, Parker Mackey, William Saville, Zane Braithwaite, Jayden Allen, Cole Kleppner, and Kobe O'Neil. Runners within 60 points of the top 10 who aren't on an expected advancing team are Washington's Aran Maloney (11th), Hedgesville's Griffin Sibole (12th), Jefferson's Nico Feigo (14th), Washington's Nick Runion (15th), Washington's Joe Schmitt (16th), and Jefferson's Kevin Kerns (17th). That should result in some fun racing over the last mile of the race. There are 28 ranked runners in Region II.

Region III: This Region should advance three teams as well. Woodrow Wilson is clearly the class of the field. The next four are separated by just 12 points, so those spots could go any which way. As it stands, I have Greenbrier East in the 2nd spot, 6 points ahead of St. Albans. George Washington is just 1 point out, and Riverside just another 5 after that. It should make for a fun race. Individually, it looks like 11 will make it out of this Region. It's the only Class AAA Region with 8 schools, and it looks like each will fill a full roster for the Regional. The current top 11 are Chris Barbera, Jacob Birurakis, Jonah Stevens, Trevor Carson, Chris Henry, Brennen McGinnis, Malachi Crews, Ethan Endres, Jared Martin, Dayton Austin, and Trenton Green. Runners within 60 points of the top 11 and not on an expected advancing team are Princeton's Kevin Tate (14th) and Capital's Forrest Long (15th). There are 26 ranked runners in Region III.

Region IV: This Region should advance three teams. I have Cabell Midland taking a narrow victory over Hurricane. Parkersburg is just 11 points behind them for the 3rd spot. Those three are well ahead of the remaining teams. There is one caveat to this. Since he had not competed since September 8th, Brett Armbruster was removed from the rankings. If he is on the line and healthy, Cabell's margin would likely grow. Individually, only 10 will advance. The current top 10 are Wyatt Hanshaw, Justin Belcher, Benjamin Lake, Steven Ball, Cooper Gibson, Sam Lerose, Keegan Barnette, Jackson Gibson, Franklin Angelos, and John Casey. Runners within 60 points of the top 10 who aren't on an expected advancing team are Parkersburg South's Cameron Marks (13th) and Ripley's Chase Pepper (15th). There are 41 ranked runners in Region IV.