They’re Ready for Another Run at Aguora Girls : Cross-country: Despite last week’s loss to the defending champions, Peninsula runners are confident about their chances at the state meet in Fresno.

Although Alisa Scudamore considers Peninsula High’s loss to Agoura in last week’s Southern Section cross-country championships a setback, the senior is not ready to concede defeat before Saturday’s state meet at Woodward Park in Fresno.

The Agoura girls, vying for their third consecutive title, and Peninsula are expected to contend for the Division I title for the second consecutive season. The teams were first and second in last season’s state meet.

Peninsula was the top-ranked team in the state entering Saturday’s Southern Section Division I race at Mt. San Antonio College, defeating second-ranked Agoura twice during the regular season.

But Agoura defeated Peninsula, 42-56, to win its sixth consecutive section title, running the second-fastest team time by a Southern Section school on the Mt. San Antonio College course.

“It was a disappointment,” Scudamore said. “We did our part, but Agoura just ran incredibly well. Maybe this will give us a little wake-up call. I still think we’re pretty equal and we still have confidence.”

Agoura sophomore Amy Skieresz and senior Milena Glusac of Fallbrook, the defending state champion, will battle for the individual title, but the team title will likely be decided back in the pack.

“On paper, Agoura is the favorite and an awfully hard team to beat,” Peninsula Coach Joe Kelly said. “But it’s still close enough that it isn’t cut and dry. This is peaking time and we still could run a little faster.”

Last week, Agoura placed its top two runners ahead of Peninsula’s first runner, sophomore Molly Mehlberg, who was fourth. But junior Jaime Artnzer, senior Julie Meyers, sophomore Mary Blake and Scudamore--Peninsula’s Nos. 2-5 runners--finished within 47 seconds and ahead of Agoura’s fifth runner.

Peninsula’s ability to run as a pack might be the deciding factor Saturday. Twenty teams will be competing in the meet, compared to 12 in the Southern Section meet.

“I think running in a bigger race with a little more competition up front will be to our advantage,” Scudamore said.

Thousand Oaks is favored in the boys’ Division I race, but the race for second is open between Peninsula, last season’s runner-up, two-time defending champion Newhall Hart and Madera of the Central Section.

Jodi Daily and Marcus Ferrera of South Torrance have qualified as individuals in the Division III girls’ and boys’ races.

The meet begins with the Division IV boys’ race at 9 a.m. The Division I girls’ race scheduled for 12:05 p.m.