Yes, distance spikes and cross country spikes are very similar. You can always remove the spikes, but some have a soft forefoot, like a regular shoe, while other have a harder plastic.
If you're thinking about "flats" for XC, is it for courses that have pavement or hard surfaces? If that's the case, then you'll want to avoid the hard plastic for that situation.
Here are some shoes to check out. Keep in mind that the best shoe, especially for young runners, is the shoe that fits well and is comfortable.
https://www.runningwarehouse.com/catpage-MDISTSH.html
https://www.runningwarehouse.com/catpage-MXC.html