A-AA
Boys Regional Preview
Region I
This Region should produce two state meet entrants. Oak Glen and Williamstown are clearly the top two teams in this region. Region I has 20 ranked individuals. The first two of these are the state’s dominant pair, Justin and Josh Simpson. The Region also sports Adam Raper who is also in the top 10. The 8th ranked runner in the region is Magnolia’s Justin McEldowney. The only runner really close (by the rankings, remember, this is why we run the races) to cracking the top 8 is Jesse Templeton of St. Marys.
Three boys teams should advance from this region. Grafton and Ritchie will take two of those spots. The third is very much up-for-grabs. Gilmer, Roane, Doddridge, and Philip Barbour all have shots at taking the spot. Individually, the region features 27 ranked runners, including four of the overall top 10. Scott Gemberling of Grafton should win the region. The 8th runner on the current ranking list is Ritchie’s Straten Schemel. Depending on which of the above mentioned teams gets to go and which ones get left home, there could be some people left on the outside looking in. The top two who are in danger of staying home are Philip Barbour’s Travis Snider and Gilmer’s Travis Fisher.
It looks as though three teams will advance from this region. Either Clay or Tolsia has to run a full team in order for that to happen. If it does, it looks as though Scott, Ravenswood, and Braxton will take the spots. Charleston Catholic has a shot at the third spot. The region has 26 ranked runners. Assuming that three teams get to go, all the ranked runners that are close to the top 8 should get in on the team ticket.
It looks like two teams will come out of this region. One will be PikeView. The other could be any of the other complete teams. The lack of ranked runners for the region makes it nearly impossible to gauge who will take the other spot without some additional research. The Region shows only 4 ranked runners who should all advance without difficulty.
This Region should also get two teams out. It looks as though Frankfort and Keyser will take those spots. Individually, there are only 6 ranked runners in the region topped by top 5 performer Woody Snoberger of Frankfort. Each should advance.
If Weir, Oak Glen and Tyler Consolidated both run full squads, this region should advance three teams. Each has at times, not run full units during the season. If three teams get to go, St. Marys is closest thing to a sure bet. Three other teams are very closely linked. Magnolia, Wheeling Central, and Weir will battle for the 2nd and 3rd spots, and an Oak Glen upset is not out of the realm of possibility. There are 20 ranked girls in this region, topped by St. Marys’ Megan Taylor and Cameron’s Hannah Robinson and Jessie Teska. Cameron’s Savon Loy is currently in the 8th regional spot. Depending on which teams get left behind the runner’s who are looking to crack into the top 8 include Tyler Consolidated’s Abby Spencer, Oak Glen’s Cindy Roos, Williamstown’s Katelin Gedon, and Oak Glen’s Susan Cashdollar. If Magnolia is left out, they could add a few runners to that listing.
As in Region I, three teams could come out of this region. Teams that don’t always run full squads, such as Bridgeport, Philip Barbour, and Calhoun will have to run a full team. If three get in, it will be Grafton, Doddridge, and Ritchie. Individually, this is the deepest of the A-AA regions, with 23 ranked runners. The top 15 in this region all come from one of those three teams. This region sports 4 of the current top 10 and adds two others who were All-State Performers a year ago. Philip Barbour’s Hillary Brown is the closest to cracking the top 8. She has missed several meets, but has performed quite well in others.
Region III should advance two teams. Charleston Catholic will take one spot, and Braxton will likely take the other. There are 19 individually ranked runners in this region, including 4 of the top 10. Currently Braxton’s Ashley Gateless is in the 8th spot. Looking to take an individual spot will be Herbert Hoover’s Carrie Burdette, Sissonville’s Tracy Fabian, and Herbert Hoover’s Maribeth Jones.
Region IV also looks as though it will get four teams. As in the boys, it is difficult to tell who the second team will be. The first should be PikeView. The region shows only 6 ranked runners, led by Vanessa Adams and Kellie Puckett. Each of the six should advance.
It looks like only one team will advance from this region. Frankfort blew away the field at the Chick-fil-A Invitational and will do so in this region as well. There are nine individuals ranked in this region, including six from Frankfort. By the current rankings, no one outside the top 8 is in danger of missing a chance to advance to the state meet.