LOCAL TEAMS TO RACE FOR FINALS TODAY.

Byline: KEVIN CONNELLY Special to the Daily News

Four high school cross country teams from the Santa Clarita Valley will have their sights set on advancing to the Southern Section finals during the prelims today at Mt. San Antonio College.

The Saugus High girls' team, ranked No. 1 in the area by the Daily News and No. 7 in the nation by Harrier magazine, are expected to coast to victory in today's race, which is the qualifying event for the finals scheduled for Nov. 18 at Mt.SAC.

Led by UCLA-bound Shannon Murakami, Katie Dunn, Amber Murakami and Brianna Jauregui, the Centurions are ranked No. 2 in the Nike Team Nationals California region despite entering the season unranked.

They are the favorites to win the Div. I state finals scheduled for Nov. 25 at Woodward Park in Fresno.

The Saugus boys, ranked No.6 by the Daily News, are coming off a slim victory last week over Canyon in the Foothill League finals.

Saugus and No. 5 Canyon, led by front-runner Stephen Kent, likely will not challenge for a Div. I state title, but are expected to advance to the Southern Section finals.

The No. 5 ranked Canyon girls, led by Wendy Cohen, should also advance to the Southern Section finals next week.

kevin.connelly(at)dailynews.com

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