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 (or five) places behind the last ranked runner, their second unranked runner would finish six (or 10) 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: This Region should advance 3 teams. There is an outside shot at getting four. Berkeley Springs would need to get five to the line. I've only seen 3 compete on the season, but they do have 5 listed on their WVSSAC roster. For purposes of this preview, I'm going to assume that we only get 3 teams out. 4 of the top 7 and 5 of the top 10 ranked teams are in this region. It's going to be a close one. I have the top 3 teams separated by just 2 points with one point gaps between 1 and 2 and between 2 and 3. The rankings show Fairmont Senior on top, followed 1 point later by Philip Barbour, who is just 1 point ahead of East Fairmont. East Fairmont has some injury issues. If they aren't at full strength, it certainly puts Frankfort and North Marion in play. North Marion just beat them at the Big 10 Championships. Individually, it looks like we'll get 12 advancers from this Region. There is a shot at 13 if everyone toes the line. There has been enough absenteeism that I'm going to go with 12. Currently, the top 12 are Kailee Haymond, Taylor Hess, Addison Lease, Emily Viani, Audrey Helmick, Hannah Kliner, Alana Grassi, Averi Everline, Naomi Young, Navaeh Premo, Brooke Jacobs, and Bella Haught. There are not any runners within 60 points of the top 12 who aren't on expected advancing teams. The closest is North Marion's Addie Elliott (#15). Elliott would be ranked 9th, 5th, and 7th in the other Regions. There are 34 ranked runners in Region I.
Region II: This Region should advance two teams. Braxton appears to be the strong favorite. The fight for the other spot is very tight as the rankings show three teams separated by just 2 points. Only one of those three will advance. Liberty Harrison is the slight favorite here with Robert C. Byrd just one point behind and Elkins just one point behind that. Liberty also just beat those two teams at the Big 10 Championships which would solidify their claim to that spot. Individually, only 10 will advance. The current top 10 are Destiny Berryman, Claudia Moore, Laura Cain, Addison Lloyd, Samantha Sproul, Bethany Payne, Kaitlyn Key, Cianna McKenna, Teagan Huff, and Annika Shuman. There is just one runner within 60 points that is not on an expected advancing team. That is Elkins' Delia White (#12). There are 23 ranked runners in Region II.
Region III: This Region can advance three teams. In order for that to happen, everyone who has ran as a complete team at any point during the season must do so. There are a few shaky ones in there, so we'll see. For purposes of this preview, I'm going to assume they pull it off. Shady Spring looks to have a pretty solid grasp on the top spot. Nicholas looks pretty solidly in 2nd, and PikeView appears to have a solid advantage for the 3rd spot. Individually, it looks like only 10 will advance. The current top 10 are Natalie Barr, Charlotte McGinnis, Haley Johnson, Carli Spade, Gwynn McGinnis, Karson Fletcher, Jenna Brown, Journey Wisthoff, Braylie Wiseman, and Laicey Necessary. The is just one runner with 60 points of the top 10 that is not on an expected advancing team. That is Wyoming East's Colleen Lookabill. There are 15 ranked runners in Region III.
Region IV: This Region will advance two teams. Winfield is the bully on the block with 7 of the top 8 ranked runners. Wayne should easily take the 2nd spot. 10 Individuals will advance. The current top 10 are Ava Ethridge, Rachel Withrow, Olivia Williamson, Miriam Al-Zoubi, Sophie Briscoe, Cami Samples, Holly Bach, Calleigh Bach, Laura Queen, and Allison Haffer. There are no ranked runners that are not on one of the expected advancing teams. There are 13 ranked runners in Region IV.