Gatorade has officially announced its winners of their prestigious Runner ("Player") of the Year award for the 2024 Cross Country season. Each year, a national winner is announced on the boys' and girls' sides, as well as a winner for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
This year, Rockhurst's Henry Acorn and Harrisonville's Kayleigh Norris were the recipients from the state of Missouri.
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Acorn posted an impressive senior season, running undefeated against Missouri competition and winning every meet except the Forest Park XC Festival where he finished second to Benton (IL) standout Gabriel McClain. He led his team to a historic season, securing an individual State title in his personal best of 14:52.40, the low stick for a Class 5 team champions with a measly 59 points. Shortly thereafter, he led the Hawklets to a runner-up finish at the Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional which secured them a berth to the Nike Cross Nationals meet. Rockhurst became only the second team in Missouri state history to qualify for Nike Cross Nationals, and first since 2005. Acorn announced his commitment to the University of Virginia in November and is the third Rockhurst Hawklet to receive this honor for Cross Country, joining Zach Herriott (2011) and Wesley Porter (2019).
You can check out the full press release for the Missouri Boys' Runner of the Year here.
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Kayleigh Norris had a similarly dominant season, finishing ahead of her in-state competition in meet this season with her only losses coming to out-of-state runners at the Olathe Twilight, Rim Rock Farm HS Classic, and Nike Town Twilight. She picked up one of her five dominant victories in the mud at the Class 4 State Championships, her second individual State title in a row, and finished out her senior season with a 17:35.78 personal best to her name. Norris committed to the University of Alabama in November and is the first female from Harrisonville to receive this honor and second runner from her school, joining Maksim Korolev who earned the honor in 2009.
You can check out the full press release for the Missouri Girls' Runner of the Year here.