Recent Dal grad named U Sports Top 8 Academic All-Canadians

Dalhousie University graduate Jacob Benoit excelled in both athletics and academics during his time on the cross-country and track and field teams. The now alumnus earned a Top 8 Academic All-Canadians honour for the 2024-25 school year.

Eight honourees travelled to Ottawa from Jan. 27 to 28 for two days of national recognition, including a luncheon reception with House of Commons Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia and a meeting with Governor-General Mary Simon.

“I’ve been to Ottawa, but that was my first time going through Parliament, seeing the Senate building and the House of Commons,” says Benoit. “Definitely got the full experience, so that was really cool.”

Benoit is Dalhousie’s 19th Top 8 Academic All-Canadians honouree, giving Dal the second-most awards in this category, behind McGill University. The Top 8 distinction is U Sports’ highest academic honour, selected from more than 5,600 student athletes who earned an academic average of 80 per cent or higher while competing in university sports.

“It’s great for Dalhousie,” says Cindy Tye, Dal’s director of athletics and recreation. “It’s a pretty cool stat, and Jacob coming into this puts light on the school and the environment that’s provided by the athletic department for him to do well in school and excel in athletics.”

Origins and athletic excellence

Benoit played sports growing up, but didn’t find his calling until ninth grade. While attending a track meet to support his sister, he was asked to fill in for an injured runner on a relay team.

“I borrowed my dad’s running sneakers and somebody’s basketball shorts and jumped in the 400-metre relay,” says Benoit. “I got absolutely humbled, but I enjoyed the challenge that it brought on, and it’s stuck with me since.”

Benoit started his varsity career at St. Francis Xavier University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in human kinetics. He came to Dalhousie in 2023 to pursue a master’s degree in business administration.

“I’m a proud alum of both schools,” says Benoit. “Fortunately [Atlantic University Sport] is a pretty special conference … and the culture here on the East Coast is really supportive.”

Benoit earned numerous athletic achievements in his two years at Dal. At the U Sports cross-country championship, he finished fourth in 2023 and fifth in 2024. He was also the 2023 AUS Athlete of the Year for men’s cross-country and named to the AUS first all-star team.

In track and field, Benoit earned a bronze medal in the men’s 3000-metre race and placed 12th in the 1500-metre at the 2025 U Sports championship.

Not an individual accomplishment

Throughout his running career, Benoit thrived in academics. He credits supportive professors who gave him extra resources and closely followed the results of his meets.

Benoit is grateful for the achievement, saying it recognizes all of the people who supported him along the way. 

“My parents have been so influential on my years as a runner and as a student,” he says. “Making the commitment to come and support me, travelling across the country to watch track and cross-country meets and booking off time from work.”

He also expressed gratitude for the guidance of Richard Lehman, Dal’s cross-country and track and field coach; Mike Smit, dean of Dalhousie’s faculty of management; Tim Maloney, Dal’s assistant vice-president of athletics and ancillary services; and Tye. 

“I think Rich was really pivotal in the past couple of years for me,” Benoit says. “He not only understood me as an athlete, but also as a person.”

Staying involved postgrad

Benoit now works in the marine department for Aon, an insurance company in Halifax.

“I’m trying to keep up a little bit with running,” Benoit says. “Although it looks slightly different now, working a full-time job versus working around a student schedule.”

Benoit is engaged with the university’s alumni network, planning to volunteer and stay connected with Dalhousie’s running programs.