Taylor Benoit: Breaking School Records on the National Stage
Benoit's ethic of excellence inspires her teammates on and off the track.
Taylor Benoit has been breaking records all over the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track scenes. After an outstanding cross country season, Benoit has been dominating in indoor events. Her list of career accolades, which includes several broken school records and the title of All-American, makes her one to watch in the upcoming outdoor season.
Benoit, a junior from Carthage, Miss., graduated from French Camp Academy. She developed a passion for running later in high school and only joined the track team as a sophomore, initially because it was a sport her friends on the basketball team participated in.
She was able to run just one meet before COVID canceled the season. However, when Benoit ran her first season as a junior, she fell in love with it. She did well from the start. She became a state champion in the 400, two-time state champion in the 800, a back-to-back state champion on the 4x800 relay team, and an 800 meter champion in the 2022 Meet of Champions. From there, she knew she wanted to pursue running at the collegiate level.
When looking at schools, Benoit knew she wanted a school that pushed her spiritually, academically, and athletically. Benoit stated she was looking for a team that felt like a family, and MC was everything she wanted it to be and more.
Freshman season was largely a transition season for Benoit as she progressed as an athlete. Benoit has matured a lot as an athlete since then. “Looking back at my freshman self to me currently, I’ve definitely matured in many ways,” Benoit said. “One major way is just how I view myself as an athlete. Running has its ups and downs, and you have to find a balance with how much pressure and value you put into it. It’s still a process that will not always be perfect, but I’ve definitely grown in the fact that my identity is not placed in my times, placements, or how successful I am. It’s in Christ, which allows this sport to be something that is fun, not a ‘job.’”
Benoit says her faith has allowed her to see running as a blessing. “It’s allowed me to have freedom in running freely,” Benoit said. “Running is a blessing that God has gifted me with, so I use it for His glory. It allows me to walk away from whatever time or whatever place I get knowing my identity is never in running, it’s in the Lord and I find joy in that!”
As a sophomore, Benoit helped the cross country season team advance to nationals before quickly taking over the indoor scene, placing well in the distance medley relay (DMR), 3k, and mile. Benoit holds second place in school history for the one mile with a time of 4.56.9. During this same season, Benoit, Lauren Wallace, and Jazmin Russell swept the GSC Women’s Indoor 800 for the first time in conference history. Benoit finished within the top ten in school history with a time of 2.14.71. She would later break that, making her new best 2:13.62.
However, it was the women’s distance medley relay that would make Benoit an All-American for the first time.
Benoit, in addition to teammates Wallace, Russell, and Hilary Udechukwu, was named an All-American for a season in which she earned as high as sixth in the country. In that same season, the squad broke the school record for the distance medley relay and, later, re-broke their own record. Benoit describes her best athletic memory to date as the DMR indoor nationals.
“We had worked so hard to qualify and ended up making it in the last spot,” Benoit said. “It was a huge blessing just to be there and we ended up becoming All-Americans on top of that. It was because we did it for one another. It was just something so surreal, and to do it with Jazmin, Hilary, and Lauren was something that I will always cherish!”
Wallace has been continually impressed with Benoit as both a runner and a teammate. “Taylor is a hard worker and an incredible teammate who embodies a Choctaw runner girl,” Wallace said. “She’s always thinking of others and thinking of how to be the best teammate she can be.”
“She believes in her ability and trusts in her teammates more than anyone I know,” Wallace continued. “She has this ability to put herself in a position to do something she’s never done and hang on for dear life. I’m lucky to be her training partner, and I learn something new every time I watch her race.”
As a junior, Benoit has won GSC Runner of the Week multiple times in both cross country and track. She won the 6k meet early on in the season, and she placed sixth individually in the cross country conference meet. While the team did not end up advancing to nationals, Benoit went individually and earned a placement of 87th in the NCAA DII national meet.
As she has transitioned back to indoor track, Benoit tried her hand in the mile before transitioning to the 3k at the end of the season. In Benoit's first 3k of the season, she broke the school record with a time of 9:49. Benoit described the experience as one of overwhelming joy.
“I never expected that to happen, but it was exactly what I needed,” Benoit said. “It was a breakthrough for me that I had been wanting for a while. I’m very thankful for Coach Webber believing in me and giving me that opportunity.”
Benoit medaled in all three of her events at this year’s indoor conference: the 3k, DMR, and 4x400. Benoit raced the DMR alongside Shana Sellers, Caroline Dooling, and Brookelyn Bidinger. The squad ran a time of 12:16.40 with Benoit once again breaking the 5 minute mark to secure second place.
“Taylor is a fierce, bold competitor that strives for excellence,” Dooling said. “Her resilience inspires her teammates to continue to persevere even in the midst of difficulties. Most importantly, Taylor is an incredible teammate and encourager. She cares deeply for others and ensures her teammates feel valued and supported. It is so inspiring to see her growth as an athlete and follower of Christ over the last few years.”
Benoit’s 4x400 squad placed third with a time of 3:59.31. She also placed third in the 3k 10:02.07. As Benoit transitions to track, she said she’s soaking up every moment. “I’ve recently realized that I have one more year of this, so I’m soaking up every bit of it,” Benoit said. “This team and this sport has blessed me so much, and I’m grateful for every opportunity that I get to do what I love with the people that I love!”
Bre Bell, a senior on the team, described Taylor as an incredible teammate and competitor. "Taylor is a relentless competitor driven to improve,” Bell said. “Her support for her teammates makes her an invaluable asset both on and off the track, inspiring everyone around her to push their limits and give their best.
Benoit opened up her outdoor season Saturday, March 1 at the Mississippi College Spring Classic. Her next meet will be March 22, 2025 at Belhaven University.
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