Title Runs May Fall 4 Feet Short : Cross-country: Peninsula, gearing up for Southern Section meet, might have to compete without its No. 1 girl and No. 3 boy runners.

If Peninsula High cross-country Coach Joe Kelly sounds uneasy entering Saturday’s Southern Section finals, it’s understandable. Because of injury and illness, the status of his boys’ and girls’ teams remains uncertain.

“We’re a little banged up, a little sick and I’m a little scared,” Kelly said.

The Peninsula girls are one of the favorites to win the Division I-AA title, but that could change drastically Saturday if No. 1 runner Molly Mehlberg is unable to run in the 8 a.m. final at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

Kelly said Mehlberg has been sick all week and did not practice with the team Wednesday and Thursday. A decision on whether she can run in the final might not be made until Saturday morning, Kelly said.

“If we don’t get her back, we’re behind the eight-ball,” Kelly said. “We’re not the same team without her.”

Mehlberg, a junior, placed second Saturday to lead the Panthers to a convincing victory in their heat at the section prelims. Peninsula senior Jaime Artzner was third.

If Mehlberg is unable to run Saturday, it could make it difficult for the Panthers to finish among the top four Division I teams and qualify for the state championships Nov. 27 at Woodward Park in Fresno.

“I don’t know if the girls can do it without Molly,” Kelly said. “There are a lot of good girls’ teams in Division I.”

Other contenders include three-time defending section and state champion Agoura, Anaheim Esperanza, Dana Hills, Chino, Newhall Hart and Thousand Oaks.

Peninsula’s chances in the Division I-AA boys’ final, which starts at 9:20 a.m., have been weakened because of a back injury to No. 3 runner Jason Neese. With Neese running poorly because of his injury, Peninsula managed to win its preliminary heat last weekend but would probably have trouble finishing ahead of Santa Ana, which won its heat with an impressive showing.

Kenny Goodrich, Peninsula’s top runner, placed seventh in the preliminary heat.

The only other South Bay team considered to have a shot at winning a section title is the Mira Costa boys, who placed second in their heat at the Division III-AA prelims.