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 can come up with 7, get them on the line. If you only have 3, get them on the line. Your region may be depending on you.
Region I: This Region should advance three teams. It again looks like University and Morgantown should be fighting it out. The current rankings have it with University getting the win by 8. Preston isn't out of contention here at just 10 points behind Morgantown, but it looks like they'll come up a little short of the other two. This Region is again ridiculously tough with 5 of the top 10 ranked teams in the State sitting in this one. Two of them will be staying home. It looks like we should get 11 individuals to advance from this Region. Currently, the top 11 are Irene Riggs, Caroline Kirby, Allie Martin, Mia Murray, Emerson Grafton, Zara Zervos, Cadence Vincent, Abby Nolan, Chloe Stark, Amelia Summers, and Hermione Vos. However, I'll note that several teams in this Region only ran a few meets, so the rankings didn't really much much of a chance to sort themselves out. Runners within 60 points of the top 11 that aren't on an expected advancing team are Bridgeport's Mira Blount (#13), and Wheeling Park's Lacey Wright (#14). There are 65 ranked runners in Region I.
Region II: This Region should advance 2 teams. If Hedgesville could come up with a 5th runner, they would get 3, but they only show 4 on the WVSSAC Roster listing, so it doesn't look like that's a possibility. It's going to be quite a fight for those two spots. I show only a 14 point difference between 1st and 4th. I have the first two separated by just a single point with Spring Mills coming out on top over Hamsphire. I have Musselman just 8 points back in 3rd and Jefferson just 5 points behind them. Mid-pack movement will be quite important. 10 Individuals will advance. the current top 10 are Dakota Johnson, Addie Labombard, Olivia Grove, Katie McGivern, Carolina Wilson, Hayley Jenkins, Faith Bush, Emily Cisar, Deidra Haines, and Alex Kile. There is only one runner within 60 points of the top 10 and not on an expected advancing team. That is Jefferson's Layla Parker (11th). There are 25 ranked runners in Region II.
Region III: This Region looks like it will only get two teams out. It could get three if South Charleston can get five to the line. Their roster on the WVSSAC site shows 6 runners, but I've only seen results for 3 of them in Kanawha County's limited schedule. St. Albans could also fill that void potentially. I've seen results from 4 runners for them, but their WVSSAC roster still lists last year's team, so I don't know if they have the numbers or not. Woodrow Wilson and George Washington look to have very firm control on those first two spots. If a 3rd team were to advance, it looks very close between Greenbrier East and Capital. Individually, it looks like only 10 will advance. If South Charleston and St. Albans also come up with additional runners, they could make it to 11. The current top 10 are Charlotte McGinnis, Collette Lindley, Kara Edstrom, Maya Schneider, Madison Cornett, Karson Fletcher, Jessica Miller, Gillian Breeden, Lauren Curtis, and Savannah Hughes. Runners within 60 points of the top 10 that aren't on an expected advancing team are Greenbrier East's Abigail Londeree (11th), Riverside's Jacquee Arrington (14th), and Capital's Emma Magee (15th). There are 29 ranked runners in Region III.
Region IV: This Region should advance three teams. Ripley appears to have a slight edge over Hurricane for the top spot with Cabell Midland holding firmly to the 3rd position. It looks like only 10 individuals will advance. However, if everyone on the rosters can get to the line, they can get 11. Ripley and Lincoln County both have someone on their roster who has not competed yet this year. It would take both of them (and everyone else keeping their 7) to get to an 11th. The current top 10 are Ellie Hosaflook, Audrey Hall, Tatum McKenna, Asha Bora, Jadyn Casto, Marimo Akita, Tori Fisher, Opal Huffman, Olivia Noel, and Ada Thompson. There are no runners within 60 points of the top 10 who aren't on an expected advancing team. The closest is Huntington's Amanda Brent (14th). There are 35 ranked runners in Region IV.