Bermudian freshman Elijah Daley produced a sequence of impressive displays to help the University of Toronto Varsity Blues secure a commanding victory at the Quad Challenge Meet.
Competing at the Varsity Pool, the nationally-ranked Blues faced off against the Calgary Dinos, Western Mustangs, and the Quebec All-Stars in a high-caliber short-course showdown.
The Varsity Blues dominated the team standings throughout the afternoon, finishing with a massive total of 830 points. The Calgary Dinos claimed the runner-up spot with 631 points, followed by the Quebec All-Stars with 335 and the Western Mustangs with 272.
Daley’s individual versatility was a central theme of the meet, headlined by a pair of clinical second-place finishes in the medley events. In the 100m Individual Medley, the Bermudian standout touched the wall in 55.50 seconds to secure Silver, a feat he repeated in the 200m Individual Medley with a rapid time of 2:01.56. These performances follow a record-breaking streak for Daley, who recently dismantled his own Personal Bests in both the Butterfly and Medley disciplines since joining the Toronto program.
In the high-stakes "Skins" Time Trials—a format designed to test recovery and explosive speed—Daley proved his worth among the region's elite sprinters. He secured a fourth-place finish in the 50m Backstroke Skins with a time of 26.05 seconds and claimed sixth in the 50m Freestyle Skins after clocking 24.17 seconds.
Daley’s contributions extended to the relay events, where he played a pivotal role for the Toronto B squad. Swimming the second leg of the 3x50m Super Skins Relay, he helped propel his team to a second-place finish in 1:19.15. He later anchored the 2x50m Super Skins Relay, touching the wall in 54.75 seconds to secure third overall.
With the OUA Championships looming in February, Daley’s consistent form suggests he will be a primary medal contender as the Varsity Blues look to sweep the provincial titles. The freshman will now return to full training as the team enters its final preparations for the championship season.
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