On Wednesday she was like a little girl lost, leaving the pool in tears after making her Commonwealth Games debut in the 100 metres backstroke.

But last night it was a totally different Kiera Aitken who took to the water.

The 19-year-old had set a personal best time in yesterday morning's heats to earn herself a place in the semi-finals and she went even quicker in the evening.

Touching home in 31.12 seconds, she erased her earlier mark of 31.28 to come in seventh of the eight swimmers. The heat was won by Dyana Calub of Australia in a Games record time of 29.07.

After the second semi-final was concluded, Aitken's time was good enough for 14th place out of 16 swimmers, the Isle of Man's Emily Crookall-Nixon and Jamaica's Mariana Chuck coming in behind her.

"I was having a really bad day that day (Wednesday)," said Aitken recalling her first swim. "Now I am better and more confident."

As for her performance last night, Aitken, who swam in lane one, said: "The start wasn't great but I was trying to be relaxed for the first 15 metres and then bring my legs in. I couldn't see the rest of the swimmers but for the girl next to me's kick and I just tried to stay with her."

Aitken's Commonwealth Games is now over and despite her nervous start she said she was glad she had her first international meet under her belt.

"It's been pretty scary but I think it's inspired me to go back and train harder and next time hopefully I can be with them (her rivals) more," she said.

Earlier, Bermuda's Graham Smith had experienced a semi-final of his own, in the 50 metres breaststroke. But despite setting two personal bests the Islander proclaimed himself still not happy.

His morning time of 31.60 seconds was eclipsed in the evening when he touched home in 31.54.

Getting an excellent start from lane one, Smith was first to rise but could not sustain his challenge and came in sixth in a race which saw England's James Gibson set a Commonwealth Games record of 27.56.

"I was hoping for a 30.50 at least," said Smith. "But it was a 31.54. In the 100 metres I took it out (the first 50 metres) in 31.33 so I should be a 30 something in the 50 metres because you don't have to go any further.

""I still have the 200 metres to do and that is more my race. That's in two days time so hopefully I will do really good."

Bermuda's two other swimmers were in action yesterday morning but neither Ronald Cowen nor Roy Allan Burch were able to proceed to the evening's events. In the 100 metres backstroke Cowen posted a time of 1:00.71 while Burch came home in 1:06.33. Cowen's time was good enough for joint 17th place out of 28 swimmers while Burch was 26th.