Jerry Reed once crooned, “When you’re hot, you’re hot.”

Local high school cross country teams are scorching.

They’re hotter than magma, Conan O’Brien’s blimp and the “Teach Me How to Dougie” dance combined. 

Thirteen area teams qualified for the CIF-Southern Section finals on Saturday at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut.

The seven fastest teams in each division will advance to the Nov. 27 state meet at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Up to five individuals can move on with a top-20 finish on non-qualifying teams.

Now is the time for runners to stay focused and pick up the pace.

“When you get to this point, everybody is fit,” said Roger Evans, the Simi Valley girls’ head coach. “Part of it comes down to who has the strongest mental focus. It’s a mental thing. That’s what it comes down to.”

The Pioneers, the fastest Division 1 girls’ team at the CIF-SS preliminaries last weekend, will be up for the challenge.

Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Royal and Camarillo advanced to the Division 2 girls’ finals. Agoura and Oak Park of Division 3 will compete, as will Division 4 La Reina.

Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Westlake are contenders in the D-2 boys’ finals, while Oak Park qualified for the D-3 race. Viewpoint of Calabasas earned a D-5 spot.

Shawn Morris, the Thousand Oaks boys’ and girls’ head coach, said he was thrilled both teams have made it this far together.

The Lancer boys edged Westlake for a Marmonte League title. The TOHS girls settled for fifth place in the final league standings but earned an at-large postseason bid and have made the most of their second chance.

“They’re coming into form, and with their training the last few weeks it should hopefully set them up for their best on Saturday,” Morris said of the boys.

Sam Worley and Michael Spencer are Lancer boys to watch.

Morris is also high on the girls.

“They’re legitimate contenders to advance to state,” the coach said. “The girls didn’t run well at league finals, but they’ve turned it around now.”

Melanie Joerger and Caitlin Turner can turn on the jets for Thousand Oaks.

Although the Camarillo boys get most of the attention, the Scorpion girls kept pace by advancing to their first CIF finals since the mid-1990s. According to assistant coach Charlie Carranza, this is the school’s fastest girls’ squad since 1987.

“We’re trying to keep up with the boys,” said Camarillo girls’ head coach Mary Perez with a laugh. “We’re really looking forward to making the most of it. The girls have been doing a great job. They’re very consistent.”

Rocki Lambdin and Kathleen Dunne propel the Scorpion girls, while Heyden Wooff leads a compelling boys’ lineup.

Westlake head coach Joe Snyder said the Warrior boys are on the bubble.

“They have the potential to get in,” Snyder said. “They have to show up and compete, just like anybody else.”

Timmy Snyder, who also stars on the Westlake golf team, has surged in recent weeks. Fellow Warriors Jonathan Miller, Mikey Giguere, Martin Arreola and Ryan Chu will be counted on for big performances.

Agoura’s girls are also making a late-season push.

“The girls in the last few weeks have learned how to consistently race hard,” head coach Cathy Prater said. “They’re prepared to do the same thing this Saturday.

“They want it more than anything, but they know they have to earn it.”

Freshman Kelsie Garrison has paved her way to the Chargers’ No. 1 spot. Sara Deluca, Jana Peale, Madison Wildman, Kelley Klezek, Karen Longstaff and Brooke Hamilton must be in top form for AHS.

Simi Valley marches forward focused and hungry in its bid to win a state championship.

“We’d like to win it all,” Evans said.

Sarah Baxter, the fastest girl in the Southern Section last weekend and for most of her freshman season, continues to devour courses and competition.

Fellow Pioneer Erika Barr has worked her way to No. 2 on the depth chart. Maddi Vorgitch, Chelsea Feller, Megan McNally, Rachel Vinas, Milana Maddalone, Amanda Miller and Hanna Jeters reinforce one of the deepest lineups around.

Other girls to watch include Newbury Park’s Shannon Byrne, Sammie Cox and Rachel Ranucci; Sophie Mateu and Kelly Upson of Royal; Oak Park’s Kaycee Holcomb; and Alyssa Frank of La Reina.

Other boys to keep an eye on include Sahm Bazargan and Patrick Thedinga of Oak Park and Viewpoint’s Ryan Schwartz.

The cross country teams are all ready to go.

“This is going to be a dogfight,” Snyder said.