Ronald Cowen and Kiera Aitken smashed nine national records between them as they enjoyed the perfect warm-up for next month's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.

Cowen and Aitken, two of four local swimmers already qualified for the Games, stole the show over the weekend at Bermuda's national championships.

Cowen showed magnificent form as he claimed new marks in the 100, 200 and 400 metres freestyle as well as in the 100 and 200 metres backstroke.

His most impressive display might have been in the 200 free in which he clocked a personal best time of one minute, 52.79 seconds which also set a new all-comers' record.

Aitken, meanwhile, blazed a hot trail in the backstroke, setting new records over 50, 100 and 200 metres. And for good measure she added another new mark in the 100 freestyle.

Kiera's sister, Ashley, made it a memorable weekend for the family when she clocked a superb 29.61 seconds in the 50 metres butterfly, setting a new age-group, national and all-comers' record.

Among those competing at the BASA pool were several swimmers from overseas, brought in to help increase the competition for Bermuda's Games hopefuls.

And they did just that.

Paige Kearns from the Brevard Swim Club in Florida set all-comers' records in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres freestyle while her University of Georgia team-mate Lindsey Erkter did likewise in the 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke.

Another visitor, Stephanie Hughes from Dalhousie University, set a new all-comers' record in the 100 butterfly.

Several of Bermuda's younger swimmers, meanwhile, also left their mark on the meet.

Rebecca Sharpe, competing in the girls' 9-10 division, set age group marks in the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke while Nicholas Thompson, in the boys' 9-10, cracked the 200 metre backstroke record.

Other records fell to to Caitlin Miller (9-10 200m individual medley) and Catriona Brewin (9-10 200m breaststroke).

Full meet results will appear in The Royal Gazette later this week.