Pictured: Hyrum Tuft (ID) at the SIC District Championships - Photo By Michael Najera
The Fleet Feet Biggest Mover Award, is a weekly award that goes to an athlete who, in the minds of our team at MileSplit, we believe made the most strides in their respective Brooks XC Region. Whether that means they made big leaps up the leaderboards, or shattered a course record, we recognize that this athlete has established themselves as a contender at their upcoming championship race.
Hyrum Tuft earns the honor this week after his win at the Idaho State XC Championships (6A). Tuft covered the 5K course in 14:28.20, shattering his previous season best and winning his first state title.
Related Link: How To Register For The Brooks XC West Championships
Before this weekend, Tuft was ranked in 70th in the Brooks XC West Region rankings with his 15:02, but now he could be a contender for the region title after moving to fourth in the West rankings.
The Top 30 athletes at Brooks XC Region Championships will receive All-Region Honors, while the top ten individuals will book their ticket to compete at the Brooks XC National Championships in San Diego on December 13.
Tuft's victory at the Idaho State Championships shouldn't be too much of a shock. He has suffered a loss at the Inland Empire Championships but was otherwise undefeated in 2025 over the 5K distance.
The surprise is the development that Tuft has enjoyed over the last calendar year. At the 2024 IHSAA Championships he finished 8th with a 15:43.11. That was his fastest time of the 2024 season. To have run over a minute faster is truly impressive.
Notable Movers From Other Regions
Northeast Region - Alexis Paterna (Exeter, NH) - Won the NHIAA XC Meet of Champions with a 17:05.20. She climbed to 12th in the Northeast rankings after winning her first state XC title.
South Region - Ava Cornelius (Owasso, OK) - Moved from 29th to sixth in the South after a win at the Oklahoma State Championships. Cornelius covered the 5K course in 17:06.68 and won the 6A Race by over a minute.
Midwest Region - Brandon Cloud (Northville, MI) - Cloud jumped from 219th to 38th in the Midwest Rankings after finishing second at the MHSAA LP Finals. Cloud covered the 5K course in 14:52.80.