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.
Region I: this Region should advance three teams. As in the girls division, this region is brutal, containing 4 of the top 7 ranked teams. University is far and away the top dog here. I have a quite a battle showing for the 2nd spot with Morgantown edging Wheeling Park by 2 points. Bridgeport looks like they'll be the one left out. We should advance 11 individuals from the Region. The current top 11 are Josh Edwards, Rocco DeVincent, Jordan Thomas, Quinn Jacquez, Mack Allen, Jonah Nizami, Lowell Cerbone, Max Morgan, Brady Miller, Landon Young, and Aiden Palmer. With so few meets run for some of these teams, the rankings aren't necessarily a great indicator. I know one of those guys may not even be Varsity for the Regional. Runners within 60 points of the top 11 who aren't on an expected advancing team are Buckhannon-Upshur's Jordan Gillum (15th), Bridgeport's Brennan Cropp (16th), and Bridgeport's Cole Bracken (18th). There are 52 ranked runners in Region I.
Region II: This Region should also advance three teams. It should be a pretty close race for the top spot. I show Jefferson taking the spot by just 5 points over Hampshire. The battle for that 3rd spot is fantastic with 4 teams showing within 5 points of each other. This not-at-all in-depth analysis shows Hedgesville taking the 3rd spot by 2 points over Spring Mills with Washington just 1 points behind them and Musselman just another 2 points back. This Region will advance 10 Individuals. The current top 10 are Chris Lucas, Kyle de Nobel, Nate Schneider, John Larson, Justin Gottlieb, William Saville, Parker Mackey, Andrew Dorsey, Conner Yaegel, and Noah Schappell. There are no runners within 60 points of the top 10 who aren't on an expected advancing team. The closest is Martinsburg's Jon Lamp (15th). There are 23 ranked runners in Region II.
Region III: This Regoin should advance three teams as well. Woodrow Wilson appears to have the top spot pretty firmly in hand. George Washington looks to be in control of the 2nd spot. St. Albans looks pretty solid for the 3rd spot. It looks like the Region will advance 11 Individuals. The WVSSAC rosters show 2 for Oak Hill and 2 for South Charleston that haven't competed yet. If three of those toe the line, the Region could advance a 12th individual. The current top 11 are Brandon Canaday, Chris Huffman, Jared Martin, Christian Saffouri, Grant Ridenour, Malachi Crews, Noah Endres, Brennen McGinnis, Conner Cormack, Zack Wilson, and Ian Wilson. There are no runners within 60 points of the top 11 who aren't on an expected advancing team. The closest is Oak Hill's Austin Bias (14th). There are 19 ranked runners in Region III.
Region IV: This Region should also advance three teams. Cabell Midland looks like the top team. Hurricane has a solid grip on the 2nd spot. The 3rd spot looks a lot closer, but Parkersburg appears to have the edge. It looks like we'll get 11 individuals to advance from this Region. They could pretty easily fall to 10, so get to the line. The current top 11 are Franklin Angelos, Keegan Barnette, Sam Lerose, Carter McKenna, Cooper Gibson, Chase Pepper, Aaron Kidd, Nick Kennedy, Max Meadows, Jared Bailey, and Brady Dawkins. Runners within 60 points of the top 11 who are not on an expected advancing team are Huntington's Max Specht (13th), Lincoln County's Luke Roberts (T15th), Lincoln County's Jackson Sanders (T15th), Parkersburg South's Aiden Blake (17th), and Parkersburg South's Brody Cochran (18th). There are 36 ranked runners in Region IV.