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: This Region should advance three teams. This should be a battle for the top spot between Frankfort and Fairmont Senior with Frankfort having a small edge of just 7 points. East Fairmont looks to have the edge for the 3rd spot with Oak Glen hoping to squeeze in. I think we'll get 12 individuals out of this Region, but it's possible for it to be only 11. The current top 12 are Logan Zuchelli, Konnor Allison, Tyler Hayes, Garrett Ferguson, Anthony Sanders, Drew Moore, Xander Shoemake, Jasper Brown, Peyton Slider, Elijah Hannig, Mason Konchar, and Luke Hawranick. Runners within 60 points of the top 12 that are not on an expected advancing team are Keyser's Trenton Denne (15th), Berkeley Springs' Jackson Mundey (17th), Grafton's J.T. Veltri (20th), and Keyser's Griffin Paugh (21st). As in the Girls division, this is the deepest of the Regions. There are 36 ranked runners in Region I.
Region II: This Region will advance two teams. This should be a fight between Lewis and Elkins with Lewis showing a slight 5 point edge using this method. No one else appears to be close to them. 10 Individuals should advance. The Region does not have 10 ranked runners. The currently ranked runners would be expected to advance. Those are Charlie Smoak, Lucas Anger, Jacob Moore, Slate Swiger, Luke Robinson, David Hughes, and Bryce Miller. That should make things pretty interesting among the unranked runners as they battle for those spots. There are 7 ranked runners in Region II.
Region III: Again, the situation in Wyoming County makes this one tricky. If Wyoming East and Westisde are permitted to compete, the region should advance three teams. If they are not, it will only advance two. Nicholas County looks like the top dog, but I only have 7 points separating the 2nd through 4th spots, making this a pretty hotly contested fight. I have Herbert Hoover in the 2nd spot with PikeView in the 3rd and Shady Spring in the 4th. This should be pretty close. The participation of the two Wyoming County schools will impact the individual advancement as well. If they are able to compete, 11 should advance. If not, it will be only 10. The current top 11 are Ethan Board, Braden Ward, Jaeden Holstein, Carson Hill, Logan Keaton, Caleb Siders, Alex Irvin, John Duvall, Brad Bostic, Colton Meadows, and Jacob Ellison. Runners within 60 points of the top 11 not on an expected advancing team are Shady Spring's Sam Jordan (12th), and PikeView's Kaleb Blankeship (13th). - UPDATE - I have just been informed that PikeView's team has been forced into quarantine and will not be able to participate in tomorrow's meet. I absolutely hate this for all involved. I don't know the official status of the Wyoming County schools, but it looks like Region III will be without 3 of its teams. That means that there will only be two teams advance from this Region. We should still be looking at Nicholas and Herbert Hoover advancing. The top 10 Individuals are now Ethan Board, Jaeden Holstein, Carson Hill, Caleb Siders, Alex Irvin, John Duvall, Brad Bostic, Colton Meadows, Sam Jordan, and Tyler Hinkle. Liberty Raleigh's A.J. Williams becomes the only runner within 60 points of the top 10 and not on an expected advancing team. There are 18 ranked runners in Region III.
Region IV: This Region should advance two teams. Winfield is far ahead of the field for the top spot. Wayne looks the most likely for the 2nd spot, but it's certainly no given. 10 Individuals should advance. The current top 10 are Matthew Scheneberg, Brayden Marshall, Chance Thompson, Chace Thompson, Colin Simmons, Landon Brumfield, Tyler Weiford, Justin Legg, Isaiah Wikel, and Marshall Villers. There are no runners within 60 points of the top 10 who aren't on an expected advancing team. The closest is Poca's Thomas Taylor (14th). There are 18 runners in Region IV.