Regional Preview

Remember, this is only how it looks from the rankings heading into the regionals. Nothing is decided. That's why we run the races.

AAA Boys
Region I: It looks as though three teams will advance from this region. Preston appears far ahead of the field with North Marion and University looking like a strong 2nd and 3rd. Those three teams should advance, and everyone in the top 11 in the current rankings if from those three teams, so it's very possible that no further individuals will advance. The highest ranked individuals that will need to step up a little to get into the mix are Morgantown's Alex Belden (12th), East Fairmont's Travis Hamrick (13th), and Morgantown's Matt Long (14th). They are the only other individuals within 60 points of the current top 10, which is the equivalent of 30 seconds. Anyone else will have to run an outstanding race to advance. The top 10 by current rankings: Ryan Skotnicki, Eric Ryan, Bryan Hooton, Joseph Morris, Joseph Schaeffer, Travis Mersing, Derek Daniel, Zach Serian, Eric Frohnapfel, Josh Mullenax.
Region II: This region should be sending three teams to the State Meet. It's fairly tightly contested region, with Jefferson looking to take the title by a slight margin over Elkins and Hedgesville. Musselman isn't too far off the mark and could easily slip in, and strong showings by Robert C. Byrd and Buckhannon-Upshur could throw them into the mix as well. Those looking to qualify individually include Robert C. Byrd's Andrew Skidmore (2nd), Musselman's Matt Rouzer (3rd), Buckhannon-Upshur's Andrew Esquer (9th), Hampshire's J.R. Benson (10th), Musselman's Wayne Stump (12th), Buckhannon-Upshur's Mark Wilfong (15th), and Martinsburg's Kevin Wesley (16th). They are all within 60 points of the top 10 in this region. The top 10 by current rankings: Bryant Cummings, Andrew Skidmore, Matt Rouzer, John Windle, Alex Zurbach, Jared Clark, Kevin Thurston, Barrett Peitz, Andrew Esquer, J.R. Benson.
Region III: This region will likely only advance two teams. Woodrow Wilson and Capital appear to have a slight edge over South Charleston and George Washington heading into the meet, but neither can afford to have a bad day. Individually, there are only 10 runners currently ranked in the region, so anyone who isn't ranked will have to pick up the pace a bit and they'll have a legitimate shot at getting in as the 8th, 9th, and 10th place runners have scores of 2, 1, and 0 respectively. The top 10 by current rankings: Nick Walsh, Matt Hensley, Silas Laws, John Underhill, Gerod Green, Clay Cobb, Carl Goldberg, Stephen Thaxton, Benji Hamer, Tyler Pfeiffer.
Region IV: This region will probably advance three teams, but it's not a lock. Cabell Midland is far ahead of the field, and Parkersburg looks to be fairly secure as well. The third spot should be quite a battle between Nitro, Parkersburg South, and Ripley with Nitro looking to have a slight edge heading into the meet. Those looking to qualify individually include Ripley's Corey Waybright (7th), and Parkersburg South's Brian Floyd (10th). Those are the only individuals within 60 points of the current top 10. Others could crack the lineup but will have to run a level higher than they have been. The top 10 by current rankings: Eric cooper, Brian Bridgewater, Sean Beckett, Landry Boggess, Mark Parsons, Cass Meadows, Corey Waybright, Josh Holley, Brandon Scarberry, Brian Floyd.

A-AA Boys
Region I: It looks as though this region will only advance two teams. Ritchie is well ahead of the field for the first spot, while St. Marys looks to have an edge for the 2nd position. Those not on the expected advancing teams that will be looking to qualify as individuals include Oak Glen's Brian Wilson (3rd), Magnolia's Justin McEldowney (5th), Williamstown's Andrew Harner (6th), Weir's Donald Reese (8th), Wheeling Central's Chris Gallaway (9th), Madonna's Sam Hall (10th), Williamstown's Ross Mullenix (T16th) and Chad Henson (T16th), and Wheeling Central's Sean Droginske (18th). The top 10 by current rankings: Michael Hardbarger, Straten Schemel, Brian Wilson, Jesse Templeton, Justin McEldowney, Andrew Harner, Chad Taylor, Donald Reese, Chris Gallaway, Sam Hall.
Region II: This region should advance three teams. Frankfort and Doddridge appear to be very evenly matched with Frankfort having perhaps a slight edge. Tucker and Keyser will battle for the 3rd spot, with Tucker looking slightly stronger heading into the meet. Those not on the three expected advancing teams that will be trying to go as individuals include Grafton's Brandon Miles (2nd), Liberty Harrison's John Natow (T3rd), Philip Barbour's Wayne Ridgway (8th), Lincoln's Justin Coughlin (11th), Keyser's Kris Stephens (14th), and East Hardy's Kevin Leatherman (16th). The top 10 by current rankings: Levi Grandt, Brandon Miles, David Orejuela, John Natow, Clancy Lanigan, Ian Beckner, Shawn Dier, Wayne Ridgway, Brent Felton, Vinnie Houdersheldt.
Region III: It looks like this region may have three teams advance. Richwood looks to be the clear favorite. Things are very tight after that. PikeView is fairly solidly in 2nd, and Webster appears to have a slight advantage over Independence and Shady Spring for the 3rd spot. This region features only 7 ranked runners, so each should advance. Those qualifying individually could include Independence's Derek Bishop (5th) and Shady Spring's Andrew Chaney (7th). The top 7 by current rankings: Tim Jones, Jonathan Yost, Zach Williams, Kevin Hanna, Derek Bishop, Seth Hampton, Andrew Chaney.
Region IV: This regionwill likely advance three teams. Ravenswood and Scott are reasonably secure in the top 2 spots. Charleston Catholic will have to hold off Braxton and Winfield for the 3rd position. Those looking to qualify individually include Braxton's Jarren Morlan (1st), Winfield's Zach Noel (6th), Braxton's James Adams (10th), and Poca's Matt Null (18th). Those are the only individuals within 60 points of the top 10 that aren't on projected qualifying teams. The top 10 by current rankings: Jarren Morlan, Andrew Benford, Jose Shultz, Ben Wise, Joe Chambers, Zack Noel, Jason Sheets, James Sheridan, Kurt Gray, James Adams.

AAA Girls
Region I: This region should advance three teams. Morgantown and Preston are substantially in front, and North Marion appears to be solidly in 3rd. However, you should never rule out Fairmont Senior. Individuals trying to make the cut include Fairmont Senior's Emily Corley (7th) and University's Hannah Vernon (8th). No one else that isn't on an expected qualifying team is within 90 points of the top 10. Still, mention must be made of Fairmont Senior's Ali Hermosilla (16th) and Sierra Wolfe (17th) as having a shot. There will be some very strong runners staying home from this region. The top 10 by current rankings: Claire Berryman, Keri Bland, Amber Riley, Kaylyn Christopher, Ahan Lewis, Maria Dalzot, Emily Corley, Hannah Vernon, Aubrey Moskal, Mariah Hamilton.
Region II: It looks as though this region will advance three teams. Elkins is far ahead of the pack. Jefferson appears to be solidly in 2nd. Hedgesville, Musselman, and Bridgeport will battle for the 3rd spot. Musselman appears to have a slight advantage heading into the meet. Those looking to get in individually include Robert C. Byrd's Lauren DeMarco (2nd), Bridgeport's Kate Merinar (7th), and Hedgesville's Nicole Phillips (13th). Of course, if the 3rd advancing team changes, so does that list. The top 10 by current rankings: Heather Saffel, Lauren DeMarco, Brooke Boening, Sydney Metheny, Nashua Hammer, Erika Thompson, Kate Merinar, Katie Burda, Tara Franklin, Mija Khan.
Region III: Whether or not this region advances two teams or one could hinge on whether or not Capital runs a full squad. If they don't only one will advance. Since they did not at their most recent meets, we'll assume they're not going to. That will leave South Charleston, Woodrow Wilson, and George Washington battling for the sole spot. South Charleston appears to have a slight edge heading into the meet. Individually, there are only 5 ranked girls in this region, so each should advance. Those not on an expected qualifying team include Nicholas' Hannah Henderson (1st), Woodrow Wilson's Courtney McGhee (3rd), and George Washington's Kathleen Power (5th). The top 5 by current rankings: Hannah Henderson, Chelsey Houchins, Courtney McGhee, Paula Kaufman, Kathleen Power.
Region IV: It looks like this region may only have two teams advance. If Hurricane, Nitro, or Spring Valley can come up with a full squad, the region can advance three. Parkersburg and Cabell Midland are solidly in front of the field for the two spots. Those looking to score an individual spot include Huntington's Molly Stevens (1st), Ripley's Chelsea Knotts (2nd), Parkersburg South's Kelsey Griffith (3rd), Spring Valley's Kylie Lemons (11th), Nitro's Kendra Wallace (13th), and Huntington's Anna Chaney (15th). Those are the ones within 90 points of the top 10. A couple others are just outside that range. The top 10 by current rankings: Molly Stevens, Chelsea Knotts, Kelsey Griffith, Rachel Kenaston, Rachel Riley, Alicia Thomas, Alexandra Jaskot, Sarah Boggess, Kathleen Dent, Katie Kelly.

A-AA Girls
Region I: This region will almost certainly only advance two teams. Ritchie and Wheeling Central are far ahead of the rest of the field and should advance easily. Those looking for individual spots include Williamstown's Heidi Webb (10th), Magnolia's Alexis Emch (11th), St. Marys' Helenia Davis (13th), St. Marys' Catie Squires (14th), and Tyler Consolidated's Abby Spencer (16th). The top 10 by current rankings: Melanie Manning, Jamie Cokeley, Stephanie Caruso, Kallen Weaver, Lauren Bauer, Angela Kimbler, Brittany Sellers, Ashley Wolfe, Caitlyn Tuba, Heidi Webb.
Region II: This region should advance three teams if all that have been running full squads run a full squad on Thursday. Doddride looks to be solidly ahead of the field, but things tighten up after that. Grafton appears to have a firm grasp on 2nd but cannot afford a bad day. Keyser and Berkeley Springs should battle for the final spot. Heading into the meet, it looks as though Keyser has a slight edge. Those looking to advance individually include Berkeley Springs' Rachel Buser (1st), Berkeley Springs' Valerie Peer (3rd), Philip Barbour's Kerry Davis (5th), Frankfort's Maggie McCort (7th), and Philip Barbour's Alexa Jennings (12th). The top 10 by current rankings: Rachel Buser, Clara Grandt, Valerie Peer, Jennie Spencer, Kerry Davis, Nicole Tingler, Maggie McCort, Elizabeth Hyde, Kylee Boring, Sarah Rosier.
Region III: It appears that this region will only advance one team, and that will almost assuredly be PikeView. The region shows only 5 ranked runners, so each should advance. Those looking to qualify individually include Greenbrier West's Lindsey Payne (2nd), Richwood's Laura Spencer (3rd), and Greenbrier West's Brittany Bolen (4th). The top 5 by current rankings: Vanessa Adams, Lindsey Payne, Laura Spencer, Brittany Bolen, Laken Coburn.
Region IV: This region is very much in danger of only advancing one team. They need one other team to field a full squad to advance a 2nd team. That single spot is likely to go to Charleston Catholic, but Winfield could sneak in take the spot away fairly easily. Those looking to qualify individually include Herbert Hoover's Carrie Burdette (3rd), Herbert Hoover's Maribeth Jones (7th), Scott's Heather Graffius (8th), Scott's Katie Dolin (10th), Winfield's Lisa Day (12th), Gilmer's Lark Butler (14th), Ravenswood's Lauren Sundin (16th), Scott's Caitlyn Nelson (17th), and Roane's Aliy Bossert (18th). The top 10 by current rankings: Kasey Jividen, Holly Rooper, Carrie Burdette, Kim Abcower, Kathryn Potesta, Nora Sheridan, Maribeth Jones, Heather Graffius, Megan Farmer, Katie Dolin.