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. 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. Your region may be depending on you.
Region II: It looks like this region will only advance three teams this year. To get four, Lewis County or Robert c. Byrd would have to get five to the starting line, and that hasn't happened all year. Hampshire is the clear favorite. Bridgeport looks like they have the edge for the 2nd spot, but Buckhannon-Upshur did just beat them at the Big 10 Championships. Jefferson, Washington, and Hedgesville have outside shots at taking a spot, but would likely need Bridgeport or Buckhannon-Upshur to falter. Individually, the current top 10 includes Letitia Propst, Lindsey Hash, Morganne Phillips, Rachel Lipps, Carissa Guyer, Danielle Lewis, Sara Burkett, Erica Voreh, Heather Jenkins, and Desiree McCarroll. There are no runners within 60 points of the top 10 that aren't on an expected advancing team. The closest would be Martinsburg's Brittany Waltz (14th). There are 44 ranked runners in Region II. Of those, 37 would be expected to advance from Region III.
Region III: It looks like this region will advance just two teams. In order to advance three, someone that hasn't run a full squad all year would have to do so at the Regional Meet. George Washington is the class of the Region. Greenbrier East appears to have the edge for 2nd over Nicholas and St. Albans. Individually, the current top 10 includes Morgan Kesecker, Carol Good, Adrienne Arnold, Sara Hamilton, Marissa Miluk, Shaye Gadomski, Ashley Hamrick, Sophie Kemp-Sherman, Kira James, and Kasey Hickman. Only one runner is within 60 points of the top 10 that isn't on an expected advancing team. That runner is St. Albans' Brittany Hughes. There are 15 ranked runners in Region III.
Region IV: This region should advance three teams. For that to happen, ever team that has run a complete team at any point this season will have to do it at the regional. It looks like it will be a three-way battle for the title. Regional Power Rankings score Hurricane, Parkersburg, and Cabell Midland separated by just 6 points. Hurricane shows up on top by a point over Parkersburg with Cabell Midland just five points back. Parkersburg did just beat Hurricane at the MSAC Championships, though. Individually, the current top 10 includes Jorden Thornton, Madison Hill, Tori Dent, April Kirk, Alex Georgel-Walz, Kaylee Williams, Baylee Summers, Alex Ellis, Clara Stephens, and Rachel Morris. There are no runners within 60 points of the top 10 that aren't on expected advancing teams. The closest is Winfield's Macy Coffey (16th). There are 46 ranked runners in Region IV. Of these, 39 would be expected to advance from Region III.
Region II: It looks like this region will only advance two teams. To get a 3rd team, someone that hasn't run a complete squad all year would have to do so at the Regional Meet. Philip Barbour looks like a pretty strong favorite with Berkeley Springs looking like a pretty solid 2nd place. Liberty Harrison, Frankfort, and Keyser will battle for 3rd and hope that Berkeley Springs runs poorly. Individually, the current top 10 includes Sarah McCauley, Katie Jan, Brianna Waybright, Macy Houck, Hannah Biser, Ashley Peters, Ashley Cassidy, Amber Abott, Sara Younker, and Sarah Boddy. Runners within 60 points of the top 10 that aren't on expected advancing teams include Liberty Harrison's Lexie Seifert (11th) and Liberty Harrison's Jasmine Flanigan (14th). There are 22 ranked runners in Region II.
Region III: This region could advance three teams. It's a very shaky three, though. For three to advance, PikeView, Mount View, and Westside will all have to run complete teams. That's been a pretty rare occurrence for some of them. For purposes of this preview, I'll assume that those teams come through for their region. Shady Spring is easily the best team in the Region. Webster appears to be pretty solidly in 2nd. PikeView, Richwood, and Independence will battle for the third spot. Regional Power Rankings show PikeView with the spot. However, Richwood and Independence both beat them at the Coalfield Conference Championships. Individually, the current top 10 includes Sarah Phillips, Chelsea East, Katie Paine, Ryleigh McCoy, Nicole Hegele, Taylor Jackson, Brianna Mazella, Kali Striker, Allison Clevenger, and Lindsey Sanson. There is just one runner within 60 points of the top 10 that isn't on an expected advancing team. That runner is Oak Hill's Morgan Wynne. There are 11 ranked runners in Region III.
Region IV: It looks like this Region will advance two teams. Scott is clearly the strongest team in the Region. Ravenswood appears to have an edge over Charleston Catholic for the 2nd spot. Individually, the current top 10 includes Sami Harris, Erica Walker, Emily Rector, Ally Hoyer, Lexi Griffith, Brittany Green, Andrea Porter, Courtney Goodwin, Amanda Powers, and Jessy Blankenship. There is just one runner within 60 points of the top 10 that isn't on an expected advancing team. That runner is Wayne's Shannon Rutherford. There are 21 ranked runners in Region IV.