BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- Nathan Lile's ascension to the elite of college swimming is impressive. He becomes the first Gardner-Webb men's swimmer to qualify for NCAA Division I Nationals, arguably the fastest meet the U.S. has to offer. And to do so in ultra-competitive short-distance events makes this accomplishment all the more noteworthy.

Add in the fact that Lile specialized in distance events prior to Gardner-Webb, and even the casual observer has to be impressed.

While it may seem shocking that Lile has overcome the odds to achieve something no Gardner-Webb men's swimmer ever has, it hasn't snuck up on Lile or his coach Mike Simpson. Ever since arriving at Gardner-Webb, Lile has had a clear vision that has manifested a goal four years in the making.

"When I was first recruited here, NCAA's was the goal in mind from the very beginning," said Lile. "This was the role I was given, and I have wanted to fulfill it since day one. It's been a goal of mine everyday, but now there is still work to be done. I was real excited the day I found out I qualified, but then reality set in over time and now it's just another meet to go achieve more."

The rare transition from distance training to sprint training is not an easy one. To enter the brutal grind that is collegiate swimming as a distance swimmer and work to become a sprinter requires uncommon dedication. For Lile, this journey to represent Gardner-Webb at Nationals as a sprinter started before he arrived on campus as a freshman.

"Coach (Mike Simpson) recognized I wasn't built for distance swimming," said Lile. "I'll never forget a promise he made me before I ever got here. He promised me I would never have to swim the mile again and I was completely on board with that."

Simpson, who saw Lile's potential and gradually weaned him off of distance events over the course of his four years as a Runnin' Bulldog, also recognized the rare characteristic Lile has that has allowed him to achieve what few swimmers do.

"What separates Nathan from the rest of the pack is that he hates to lose more than any other individual I have ever coached," said Simpson. "Everyone wants to win. You can coach individuals' ways to be set up for success, but you can't teach someone to hate to lose. You either have that drive or you don't.

"It is that drive that Nathan possesses that allows him to be willing to do things in practice that other people wouldn't. He watches a lot of video so he can see his technique and ask questions. Everyday at practice this year he asks the coaches 'How can I get better?' He has a very strong desire to better himself."

Attention to detail is vital to the success of any swimmer. Lile asserts that, while his days as a distance swimmer were some of his most challenging, his transition into collegiate sprinting has brought new challenges that rival the old.

"A great majority of distance swimmers put the events on a pedestal as being one of the hardest things to do and they are right," said Lile. "It just takes a lot of grit to get through those longer events. The hardest thing about switching from that 'grit and grind' swimming of distance events to sprinting is the small details.

"Coming into college, I would just try to work harder and grind every practice. Now, I realize I have to pay much more attention to every breath, every stroke, and every start. These technique things have become more important to me everyday in practice. The task now is to pay attention to the small details instead of just grinding it out."

On Thursday, as a result of his great work ethic, dedication, and attention to detail in the water and out, Lile gets to race among the college elite on the biggest stage of his life. Even though it was the goal four years ago, it has taken a long road to earn Lile the chance to add to his long list of accomplishments.

"I can't help but reiterate the change from a distance swimmer to a sprinter qualifying for NCAA's in his first year truly swimming the event just doesn't happen," said Simpson. "It just adds to the storied career of Nathan Lile.

"This is the fastest meet in the world. I have had the opportunity to attend once as an athlete and this will be my third time as a coach. The atmosphere is unlike any other meet and I want Nathan to enjoy it, because it truly is an experience of a lifetime."

Lile will start his 2016 NCAA Championship experience tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. swimming in the 50 Free prelims with the goal of being in tomorrow evenings finals at 6 p.m. The format will be the same over Friday and Saturday as Lile competes in the 100 Fly Friday, and the 100 Free on Saturday.