Skyline leads early; Hunter's Harvey wins

PROVO — Skyline took overpowering leads in Friday's opening night of the 5A state swimming championships, with the Eagle boys leading runner-up Kearns 209-111 and the Eagle girls ahead of Kearns 215-147.

One of the most compelling storylines of the evening was Hunter's John Harvey, who won the 200-yard individual medley despite his admission that he "should be dead."

During a September 2001 water polo competition, Harvey dove into the water and inadvertently struck his head, with the impact breaking his neck in multiple spots. He didn't tell anyone at the time, and it took several moments before Hunter coach Steve Marsing discovered what had actually happened.

"He didn't want to tell anyone about it," Marsing said.

Miraculously, the injury didn't result in a coma or any permanent damage. And while the road to recovery did take several months for Harvey to complete, his work ethic and determination helped to transform him into one of the state's top swimmers.

Flash forward to Friday night. Swimming the breaststroke in the third 50 yards of the 200 IM, Harvey found himself trailing Skyline's Drew Boyles.

"I knew I would have to work hard,' he said.

Harvey outswam Boyles in the final 50 yards to claim his first individual title, touching at 1 minute, 58.26 seconds to Boyles' 1:58.34.

"He deserves to win," Marsing said. "He's one of the hardest workers I know. John is a coach's dream."

The junior will get a chance to win his second championship tomorrow in the 100 butterfly.

"I need to get excited right from the get-go," he said.

Headlining the Skyline boys was Brooks Felton, who missed his 5A state mark in the 200 freestyle at 1:42.49 — .44 seconds shy of his record. Skyline's George Evans won the 50 free.

"Our boys swam really well," Skyline coach Rod Horton said. "A lot of boys have dropped their times."

As for Skyline's girls, Adrienne Coburn set the state record at 2:06.16 in the 200 IM.

Horton said his girls team can improve their lead in today's finals. "Our girls are a little disappointed," he said. "I think they'll be a little ticked off."

Winning the other two girls individual events were Kearns' Natalie Edge in the 200 free and teammate Jennifer Fredsall in the 50 free.

The 5A swim meet concludes this afternoon, with the 14 finals beginning at noon at BYU's Richards Pool.