Elsie, Features, Ovid, Sports

Ovid-Elsie’s Harden Shatters 100 Breaststroke Record with 1:06.03 Clocking

ST. JOHNS — In a double-dual varsity swim meet here February 15, Ovid-Elsie senior Sam Harden broke the Marauder 100 breaststroke record.

The Marauders were competing against both the host Redwings and Dewitt at the St Johns pool.

“Sam swam the youth age group with the St Johns Sea Lions, so he was competing against people he knew,” said coach Karl Dahlke. “Specifically St Johns’ senior Koy Grams has been a friendly rival of Sam’s for many years.

“Sam led the majority of the race but Koy refused to give up. Koy closed in on Sam’s lead in the last length. In the end, both looked up at the clock waiting for the time to post … then the time of 1:06.03 went up in both of their lanes. They had tied down to the nearest 100th of a second,” Dahlke said of the dramatic finish. The Redwings won the team score results, 124-108 over O-E.

Harden shattered the record that was set by Steve Huffman in 1985.

“Sam is still looking at making bigger drops in his times, with his sights on making a state cut-off time,” said coach Dahlke. “Congratulations and good luck to Sam.”