Auburn's self-proclaimed 'Four Horsemen' quartet of Fred Bousquet, George Bovell, Derek Gibb and Ryan Wochomurka led the Tigers into the 2004 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday night by swimming to three world marks on the opening night of the Tigers' quest to defend their title.

Bovell and Bousquet both set world records in individual events and the two of them also paired up with Gibb and Wochomurka to set the fastest and second-fastest time in two relays as the Tigers raced out to a 98-point lead after the first day. The Tigers have amassed 211 points while second-place Stanford has 113.

"Obviously it was a thrilling night for us," AU Coach David Marsh said. "Tomorrow, as any coach on deck will tell you, is the key day. That will determine the momentum that will carry over to the end of the meet. Part of our challenge will be to calm down after today."

The Tigers began their defense by swimming the fastest 200-meter freestyle relay in the history of the sport with a time of 1:23.75, besting their time of 1:25.46 which they swam during Thursday morning's prelims. Bovell led off the relay with a 21.40 split and was followed by Wochomurka's 21.04. Gibb, who excelled on relays at last season's NCAA Championships, clocked a 20.76 before handing off to anchorman Bouquet, who came home in time of 20.55.

"It has been a goal of ours all year to win the relay," Gibb said. "We knew we had something special with SEC's when we broke the NCAA record in yards (in the 200 freestyle relay). Coming into this meet, we had a lot of confidence in ourselves. It helps having a world record-holder (Fred Bousquet) on your side in the 50 free. We knew we had something special."

The record cannot be considered a world record because all four athletes do not hail from the same country. However, the time does go down as NCAA and US Open Record.

Bovell, who set NCAA and US Open records in the 200-yard individual medley at the 2003 NCAA Championships, successfully defended his title in the 200 IM as the Trinidad and Tobago native blazed to a world record time of 1:53.93, besting the old mark by .72 seconds. Bovell's, who missed the record by three-hundredths of a second during the prelims session, has splits of 25.64, 28.29, 32.99 and 27.01.

"I felt a lot of pressure which I put on myself," Bovell said. "I probably would have never forgiven myself after coming so close (this morning) and not accomplishing it."

Bovell was joined in the championship finals of the 200-meter IM by classmate Eric Shanteau (1:55.94), senior Mark Gangloff (1:56.64) and fellow sophomore Doug Van Wie (1:59.08), who finished fourth through sixth, respectively.

Bousquet wiped another world record off the books as the Perpignan, France native shredded the water for a 21.10 from lane eight of the 50-meter freestyle, besting Great Britain's Mark Foster's three-year-old mark by three-hundredths of a second. Bousquet almost did not make the championship finals as he was tied for the eighth spot in prelims and had to race Rolandas Gimbutis in a swim-off following the prelims session where he busted-out to a 21.50 to easily defeat the California Bear.

"I guess I need to be a little mad to swim faster and my teammates knew it so they put me in good condition for the race. Everybody was behind me," Bousquet said.

Bousquet was joined on the podium by two of the other four horsemen. Wochomurka placed third with a time of 21.59 and Gibb sprinted to a 21.69 to place fifth.

Two of the four horsemen closed out the night by knocking off another world record, though this time it was only good enough for second-place. Senior Bryce Hunt led off the runner-up 400 medley relay with a split of 51.67 before turning the reigns over to fellow senior Mark Gangloff, who raced to a 57.85 on the breaststroke leg. Bousquet then swam the butterfly leg with a 51.09 split while Bovell anchored in a time of 46.58.

Caesar Garcia brought home the highest 1 meter finish of his four-year career as the Baton Rouge, La., product placed seventh with a lifetime-best score of 345.75.

BJ Jones claimed the highest finish of his career in a NCAA event as the junior clocked a 3:47.30 to finish seventh in the 400-meter freestyle.

The Tigers 211 points if five more points than AU gathered on the first day of last season's championships when they finished with 609.5 points becoming only the second team to top the 600-point barrier in NCAA history.

Auburn's Thursday Finals Results

200-Meter Freestyle Relay

1. Auburn 1:23.75**

Bovell (21.40), Wochomurka (21.04), Gibb (20.76), Bousquet

(20.55)

400-Meter Freestyle

7. BJ Jones 3:47.30

200-Meter Individual Medley

1. George Bovell 1:53.93***

4. Eric Shanteau 1:55.94

5. Mark Gangloff 1:56.64

6. Doug Van Wie 1:59.08

50-Meter Freestyle

1. Fred Bousuet 21.10***

3. Ryan Wochomurka 21.59

5. Derek Gibb 21.69

1-meter Diving

7. Caesar Garcia 345.75

400-Meter Medley Relay

2. Auburn 3:27.19

Hunt (51.67), Gangloff (57.85), Bousquet (51.09), Bovell (46.58)

Team Scoring After Day One

1. Auburn 211

2. Stanford 113

3. Texas 110

3. Arizona 110

5. Florida 77

** NCAA and US Open Record

*** World, NCAA and US Open Record