Let's not forget the Saugus boys

Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta's Zack Torres turned in the most impressive performance of any local male runner Saturday night at the 28th annual Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, clocking 14 minutes, 26 seconds on the 3-mile layout to take second to University City of San Diego's Mac Fleet, who defended his sweepstakes title in 14:22.

But the most significant effort came from the Saugus boys' team, which took eighth in the sweepstakes race with 265 points, one year after a fourth-place effort in the rated race.

"We celebrated," coach Rene Paragas said. "We would've been happy just placing in the top 12."

Saugus' rise has been on display early in the season, as the Centurions entered the race ranked No. 4 in Southern Section Div. II and sixth in the state. Saugus figures to only enhance its chances of moving up in the rankings after holding its own against several of the top programs in Div. I.

Alec Nelson, who won the junior class race at the season-opening Seaside Invitational, finished 16th in 14:58 and Brandon Jauregui -- the senior race winner at San Buenaventura State Beach -- was 18th in 15:09.

Torres, Nelson and Jauregui were among seven local athletes to place in the top 30.

Camarillo's Heyden Wooff was fifth (14:38), Lancaster's Pedro Zaragoza took ninth (14:49) and El Camino Real of Woodland Hills' Brett Schmitt placed 14th (14:54).