They’re Off, Running to State Meet : High schools: Peninsula boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams have lofty goals entering Saturday’s competition.

After winning the school’s first-ever Southern Section championship, the Peninsula High boys’ cross-country team is prepared to battle defending State Division I champion Hart of Newhall in the state finals Saturday in Fresno.

The Peninsula girls’ team, which finished second at the Southern Section finals last weekend and is ranked sixth in the nation, will attempt to upset Agoura.

Both Hart and Agoura are ranked No. 1 in the nation by The Harrier Magazine.

Joe Kelly, who along with Rod Flagler coached the successful cross-country program at Palos Verdes High for 10 years, guided Peninsula to Bay League titles in his first year.

“Our team goals are to place in the top two in both the boys’ and girls’ (competitions),” Kelly said.

The boys’ team is led by Goss Lindsey, a senior who finished third in the Division I-AA meet last weekend in 15 minutes 57 seconds over a three-mile course at Mt. San Antonio College. Lindsey, who ran for Kelly at Palos Verdes, was hampered early in the season because of a stress fracture.

“He’s our catalyst,” Kelly said. “He leads by example and with his spirit. He’s as good a leader as we’ve ever had.”

Running in the No. 2 position is junior Dan Minami. He is close to Lindsey in talent, Kelly said, and his time of 15:58 in the section final was good for fourth place behind Lindsey. Minami also performs at his best under pressure, according to his coach.

“He likes the heat of the battle,” Kelly said. “Neither Lindsey nor Minami ever run bad races.”

Brian Steip, who attended Rolling Hills before the consolidation, tied for fifth at the section meet with teammate Ethan Bradley. Both runners finished in 16:21.

Steip “fit beautifully into our puzzle,” Kelly said. The team, which consists mainly of former Palos Verdes High runners, has been successful because of the maturity of the athletes, Kelly said.

Kelly said Bradley is a self-made runner who is thoroughly dedicated to the sport and “gets better and better as he works harder.”

Senior Kevin Fay, who has been hampered because of injuries, and sophomore Hide Sand, a runner with “great speed,” according to Kelly, complete the boys’ team.

The girls’ team is led by Mayo Muneno, who finished third in the section final in 18:26. A four-year varsity runner, the first three at Palos Verdes, Muneno is at her best in important meets, according to Kelly. He considers her “definite college material.”

Team captain Yoko Senga ran 18:40 last weekend. The senior wants to continue running cross-country in college and has spoken to representatives from UC Irvine, UCLA and Colorado State.

Freshman Molly Mehlberg runs in the No. 3 position for Peninsula. Although inexperienced, Mehlberg has been instrumental in the Panthers’ success.

“She hasn’t been intimidated,” Kelly said. “Because of some earlier injuries, we would be hurting if Molly and a few other girls hadn’t stepped up (their performances).”

Alisa Scudamore, a junior who will also compete on the swim team, is one of the runners who has added depth. She doesn’t have great speed, Kelly said, but is a good competitor who runs with confidence.

Mary Blake, the second freshman to contribute to the varsity team, has “good speed,” according to Kelly, who noted that she will develop more confidence and strength as she matures.

Sophomore Jamie Artzner is another tough competitor. “She’d just as soon drop dead on the course than let someone beat her,” Kelly said.”

Although neither the boys’ nor girls’ teams are favorited to win a state championship, Kelly is optimistic that his athletes will have peak performances.

“When teams are close, anything can happen,” he said. “You are relying on five people to perform at that level. At state meets, some kids will choke and some kids will run out of their minds.”