compare two col and place result in cell

Hello,
Hoping I can have some assistance with my project please. I am working with Excel formulas.
In my sheet, Col A changes the data as each race becomes ready, and consists of anywhere between say 5-30 names in the format- 2. Red as per attached sheet.
I prepare a list of names and place them in Col AK. These names are pruned from the races.
Now what I would like to be able to automate is when a name appears from the list in ColAK
in ColA to enter “YES” in cell AL1.This process to then continue as each new race appears.