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 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 3 teams. University should win with ease, and I have Morgantown edging out Wheeling Park for the 2nd spot. Bridgeport lingers in the background, hoping to put together something great to steal a spot. Individually, 11 should advance. Everyone available must toe the line to get 11, though. 1 missing guy, and we're down to 10. This happened at this Region last year. The current top 11 are Drew Zundell, Jacob West, Tyler Umbright, Ethan Conroy, Seth Franke, Troy Zorick, Redick Moore, Quinn Mudry, Jack Overfield, Sam Dodson, and Gavin Whorton. Runners within 60 points of the top 11 and not on an expected advancing team are Preston's Damian Rumer (13th) and Buckhannon-Upshur's Jack Waggy (18th). As with the girls, this is a loaded Region. There are 55 ranked runners in Region I. 34 would be expecte to advance in Region II and in Region III, and 21 would be expected to advance in Region IV.

Region II: It looks like 3 teams should advance from this Region. Jefferson easily holds the top spot, and Hampshire looks really solid for 2nd. I have Hedgesville holding the 3rd spot with a bit of a cushion, though not an insurmountable one. 10 Individuals will advance. The current top 10 are Conner Myers, Owen Thompson, Wyatt Thorne, Travis Jenksin, Shawn Swartz, Shane Burkhardt, Reese Hickey, Andrew Buthcer, Silas Yates, and Augustin Hall. Runners within 60 points of the top 10 and not on an expected advancing team are Musselman's Justin Moss (12th) and Washington's A.J. Atkinson (14th). There are 36 ranked runners in Region II.

Region III: This Region should advance 3 teams. I have a tight battle for the top spot with Woodrow Wilson taking the spot by just one point over George Washington. I have St. Albans in the 3rd spot by 15 points. Solid but not insurmountable. It looks like 11 Individuals should advance. The current top 11 are Brandon Canaday, Skyler Hudnall, Kirklen Hinamon, Gage Fox, Gavin Baldwin, Zachary Neal, Michael Haddadin, Josiah Lavender, Robbie Brown, Brady Whitehead and Ryan Van Bibber. Whitehead has not competed since September 9th, so his availability for this meet is in question. If he's out Kyle Peters mans that 11th spot. Runners within 60 points of the top 11 and not on an expected advancing team are Greenbrier East's Jackson Carter (13th), Oak Hill's Caleb Carver (16th), Princeton's Brady McCabe (17th), Riverside's Tyler Moffett (18th), and Capital's Micah Hale (19th). There are 26 ranked runners in Region III.

Region IV: This Region should advance 3 teams. Lincoln County needs to get 5 on the line to assure this. I have Hurricane in the top spot by 8 points over Cabell Midland with Parkersburg easily holding the 3rd spot. It looks like only 10 Individuals will advance. The current top 10 are Ty Steorts, Aaron Kidd, Aiden Kneeland, Tristan Blatt, Mason Lewis, Andrew Bowen, Connor George, Jack Mills, Dylan Dial, and Christian Rutherford. There is only one runner within 60 points of the top 10 that is not on an expected advancing team. That is Huntington's A.J. Irby (16th). There are 39 ranked runners in Region IV.