Rock Port’s Norah Watkins and East Atchison’s Jayla Irvine were named to the 2024 All-KMAland Missouri Girls Cross Country Team. (KMAland photo)

East Atchison’s Cole Anderson and Quin Staten and Rock Port’s Malachi Skillen were named to the 2024 All-KMAland Missouri Boys Cross Country Team. (KMAland photo)

By KMA’s Trevor Maeder

KMA Sports recently announced their selection for the All- KMAland Missouri girls and boys cross country teams.

Chosen for  the 2024 All-KMAland Missouri Girls Cross Country Team were: Norah Watkins, junior, Rock Port, and Jayla Irvine, senior, East Atchison.

Rock Port’s Norah Watkins is back on this team after a big junior year. She won the Tarkio Indian Run event in mid-September and ended the year with a 12th place finish at state in Class 1 for the second state medal of her career. She was second in the 275 Conference and second in District 4.

One of two seniors on this team, Jayla Irvine was the top finisher on the East Atchison Lady Wolves team that qualified for state. She ultimately finished 26th in Class 1 with a time of 21:51.20. She was sixth in the 275 Conference and seventh in District 4. Irvine is now a three-time member of this team.

Three Atchison County runners were chosen for the All-KMAland Missouri Boys Cross Country Team. They are: Cole Anderson, senior, and Quin Staten, junior, East Atchison, and Malachi Skillen, senior, Rock Port.

Cole Anderson finished 6th at the 275 Conference Meet and qualified for the Class 1 State Meet with a 9th place finish at Districts. He ultimately claimed 64th with a time of 18:52.20.

Malachi Skillen won the 275 Conference title in 18:09.90. He was continually competing for meet titles throughout the year and ended his prep career with a medal as he took 23rd in Class 1 with a time of 17:52.40.

Quin Staten finished 13th at Districts to secure his spot at State. He was the top East Atchison runner at State, taking 55th in 18:39.90.