GREENSBORO, N.C. – Merely becoming a national champion wasn't enough for James McChesney. No, TCNJ's superstar men's swimmer had to go even further.

McChesney made history on Thursday night, pulling away to win the 200-meter freestyle championship with a mind-boggling 1:34.74, shattering the previous NCAA record by more than three-quarters of a second in a performance that cemented his place in rarified air. The junior became the third individual national champion in program history, joining Matt Stoll – who won the 200 breast in 1994 – and Steve Swenson, who captured the 100 breast in 2006.

"It feels great," McChesney said. "I just like having all my teammates here and everyone up there cheering. It's unreal … I have no words."

McChesney was second in the 200 free prelims, trailing Wash U's Mason Kelber by a mere hundredth of a second at 1:37.15. Kelber and the six other swimmers who shared the lanes with McChesney had no chance in the final, with Emory's Pat Pema touching the wall a full 1.35 seconds back of the Lions' star.

Already a nine-time All-American, McChesney tied for third in the 50 free the previous night and will challenge for another national championship in the 100 free on Saturday.

McChesney's all-time swim was the headliner on a tremendous night for the Lions, who moved up two spots into a tie for 12^th place in the team standings with two additional school records plus two more individual All-Americans and an All-American relay.

Gavin Formon (sixth) and Ryan Higgins (10^th) each secured All-America honors in the 400 IM.

Formon turned in the swim of his life in the prelims, taking 5^th in a time of 3:54.22 that shattered his previous personal best by more than 3.50 seconds and eclipsed Higgins' program record of 3:54.46 from the METs championship. Higgins, for his part, took ninth in 3:55.82 to clinch a spot in the B final.

Formon wasn't as fast in the night session, but was more than happy to claim sixth with a time of 3:56.62. Higgins outperformed his morning swim with a 3:55.33, good for runner-up in the consolation final.

McChesney also anchored the 400 medley relay, joining Andrew Kidchob, Ryan VanDeVeen, and Dixon Kahler to set a new school record of 3:17.23 in prelims. The quartet placed 13^th overall after clocking a 3:18.38 in the consolation final.

The 200 free relay unit of Kahler, Matt Watts, Kidchob, and Lukas Blach narrowly missed qualifying in the top-16 of the morning's prelims, taking 20^th in a time of 1:23.23. The Lions' quartet was less than two-tenths of a second out of a spot in the consolation final.

The Lions continue their NCAA championships journey on Friday, with Kidchob competing in the 100 back and VanDeVeen in the 100 breast in addition to the 800 free relay.