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 have seven, get them to the line. If you only have 3, get them on the line. Your region may be depending on you.
Region I: It looks like this Region will advance 3 teams. Fairmont Senior appears to be at the top of the field. Philip Barbour looks like the 2nd best team, but considering that they haven't competed since September 19th...who knows. I have East Fairmont slated in the 3rd spot. The gaps between 1-2-3-4 are all pretty even. They all range from 16 to 19 points. Solid but not insurmountable gaps with North Marion looking like the odd team out. Individually, it looks like we'll advance 13 from this Region. The current top 13 are Erykah Christopher, Lydia Falkenstein, Audrey Williams, Jay Cee Everson, Sophia Arner, Taylor Hess, Belle Harvey, Sophia Tomana, Sophia Schnore, Audrey Helmick, Addison Lease, Bella Haught, and Kennedy McGeehan. Those within 60 points of the top 13 and not on an expected advancing team are Grafton's Emily Viani (15th), Keyser's Averi Everline (16th), North Marion's Madison Hayes (18th), and North Marion's Addie Elliott (20th). Easily the deepest Region, there are 43 ranked runners in Region I.
Region II: This Region should advance two teams. Elkins looks to be well ahead of the field with Liberty Harrison looking at the 2nd spot. Individually, 10 will advance. The current top 10 are Addison Berdine, Samantha Sproul, Heidi Payne, Sara Lowe, Natalie Sutton, Destiny Berryman, Kiley Edwards, Aliza Allman, Emily Wilfong, and Nicole Bramble. Runners within within 60 points of the top 10 who arent' on an expected advancing team are Lincoln's Hannah Rowan (11th) and Robert C. Byrd's Paris Barker (13th). There are 15 ranked runners in Region II.
Region III: This Region should advance two teams. There is one thing up in the air regarding this Region. With Westside and Wyoming East turning red on the Covid Color Map this week, they may be ineligible to run in this meet. Regardless, the top two teams in this meet appear to be Nicholas and Shady Spring with Nicholas holding an advantage for the top spot. Individually, 10 will advance. The current top 10 are Natalie Barr, Kathleen Walkup, Colleen Lookabill, Jessica York, Chloe Honaker, Abigail Houck, Brooke Berneburg, Soren Tyree, Sara Harris, and Courtney Prather. If Wyoming East is not permitted to run, that would remove Lookabill and Harris. Cat Farmer and Autumn Richardson would move into those next two spots. If they are permitted to run, PikeView's Cat Farmer (11th) and PikeView's Autumn Richardson (12th) would be the only runners within 60 points of the top 10 not on an expected advancing team. 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. It doesn't look promising for them, so for this update, I'll take them out as well. This will still leave Nicholas and Shady Spring as the two teams advancing to the State Meet. This makes the current top 10 Natalie Barr, Kathleen Walkup, Jessica York, Chloe Honaker, Abigail Houck, Brook Berneburg, Soren Tyree, and Courtney Prather. That would be the only 8 remaining ranked runners. There are 12 ranked runners in Region III.
Region IV: This Region should advance two teams. Winfield and Wayne are clearly the top end of the field. Winfield looks to have a small advantage with an 8 point gap in between. 10 Individuals should advance. The current top 10 are Rachel Withrow, Jalynn Browning, Emily Williamson, Olivia Williamson, Alanna Roberts, Ella Wikel, Marian Al-Zoubi, Laura Queen, Hailey Wallace, and Sarah Lipscomb. There are no runners within 60 points of the top 10 who are not on an expected advancing team. The closest is Nitro's Danielle Ward (11th). There are 17 ranked runners in Region IV.