WALNUT -- Saugus saw its chances to win one Southern Section cross country title increase and another encounter a minor setback Saturday.

Harvard-Westlake had its boys' team hit a favorable stride at the right time, but was dealt a severe blow in its quest to repeat as Div. IV girls' champion.

And the Simi Valley girls, along with the Camarillo and Golden Valley boys, continued their late-season surges, putting themselves in position to challenge for plaques next Saturday.

Saugus' bid for a fifth straight girls' title took another step forward, as the Centurions won their Div. II heat with 21 points and the fastest team time of the day (92 minutes, 18 seconds) on the 2.91-mile course at Mount San Antonio College, leading a group of 18 area team qualifiers into the finals.

Although Saugus won its Div. II boys' heat with 63 points and a team time of 79:17 to lead 18 local team finalists, the Centurions -- the top-ranked squad in the state -- will have to contend with motivated lineups from Camarillo (79:01), Claremont (78:49) and Loyola (77:43) in the championship race.

"I thought league finals would be a wake-up call, but these are the trials of the mile," Saugus coach Rene Paragas said. "We've had a history of not running well at prelims and coming back strong the next week at finals, so they all believe it can be done. But we have to bounce back next week or we're going home."

With Kaylin Mahoney competing in her third race this season, including her first at Mt. SAC, the Saugus girls aren't in jeopardy of not qualifying for the state meet.

But despite Stephanie Bulder (17:53), Mahoney (17:57) and Karis Frankian (18:25) taking the top three spots in their heat and Danielle Hernando (18:56) and Merissa Kado (19:07) finishing eighth and ninth, the Centurions will face their toughest challenge in the past five seasons in next week's final against Redondo Union (92:36) and Mira Costa (93:30).

"It's going to be my first big race (this season), so I'm looking forward to it," Mahoney said. "Just being out there (Saturday) set the fire inside me. I've never seen Redondo race before but I know they're going to be tough competition, probably the toughest competition we've faced (in California) considering the level they're at. But I have every bit of confidence in the team that we can take them."

While the confidence continued to soar Saturday for boys' heat winners Camarillo (Div. II), Golden Valley (Div. III), Crespi (Div. IV), Harvard-Westlake (Div. IV), Buckley (Div. V) and Desert Christian (Div. V), as well as girls' top qualifiers Simi Valley (Div. I) and La Reina (Div. IV), it took a hit for the Harvard-Westlake girls.

Although defending Div. IV state champion Cami Chapus won her heat in 17:39, the Wolverines couldn't overcome the absence of junior Amy Weissenbach -- sidelined with a stress reaction in her right hip -- and took second to El Segundo by a 51-64 margin. Weissenbach's status for the section and state finals is doubtful.

"I still think they can do it," said Weissenbach, who has been slowed since the Nov. 3 Mission League finals.

"Nikki (Goren) didn't even race (Saturday) and she's been doing awesome and I know everyone on the team is capable of running faster."

Harvard-Westlake's boys (84:07) showed they're ready to contend for the Div. IV title, winning their heat with 64 points, ahead of Salesian (118) and Notre Dame (124). Crespi (83:53) added to an impressive day for the Mission League by winning its heat with 70 points, ahead of JSerra (91) and Don Bosco Tech (103).

Led by freshman Sarah Baxter posting the fastest girls' time of the day at 17:39, Simi Valley (92:59) captured its Div. I heat with 25 points.

Erika Barr was third (18:33), Chelsea Feller took sixth (18:49), Madelyn Vorgitch finished eighth (18:54) and Rachel Vinas placed 11th (19:04) for the Pioneers, who posted the fastest team time among all Div. I qualifiers a year after securing the 16th and final berth in the prelims to compete in the championship heat.

Burroughs' Anthony Monroy (15:19) posted the top time among area boys to take second in his Div. I heat. Canyon's Sam Willis (15:28) was third in his Div. II heat (15:28) and Kristian Martinez (15:42) won his Div. III heat for Golden Valley, which prevailed with 46 points. Burbank's McKenzie Paul (18:12) was sixth in her Div. I heat and Valencia's Sarah Adams (18:44) placed fifth in her Div. I race, both qualifying for finals.

Other local boys' teams to advance to the finals included: Burroughs (Div. I), Thousand Oaks (Div. II), Westlake (Div. II), Hart (Div. II), Canyon (Div. II), Oak Park (Div. III), St. Francis (Div. III), Paraclete (Div. IV), Flintridge Prep (Div. V) and Viewpoint (Div. V).

Additional area girls' team finalists are: Crescenta Valley (Div. I), Thousand Oaks (Div. II), Newbury Park (Div. II), Camarillo (Div. II), Royal (Div. II), Agoura (Div. III), Golden Valley (Div. III), Oak Park (Div. III), Paraclete (Div. IV), Notre Dame (Div. IV), Flintridge Sacred Heart (Div. IV), Oaks Christian (Div. IV), Flintridge Prep (Div. V), Desert Christian (Div. V).