Tyler Mazurek set a national record on the way to a podium finish in the boys’ 13-and-over 400 metres individual medley on day two of the Validus Bermuda National Championships at the Aquatic Centre yesterday.

The 16-year-old Bermudian, who is representing Swim Atlanta Georgia in these championships, swam a blistering 4min 57.09sec to take the silver medal and shave more than eight seconds off the previous record of 5:05.72 in the boys’ 15-16 age group, achieved by Nicholas Patterson at the Carifta Championships in Barbados in 2011.

“It is nice to see records broken,” Mazurek said. “I have had some tough races in the past few months, so I just wanted to get in the pool and see what I could do. Hopefully this can be the start of a new leaf.”

Agnishwar Jayaprakash, of the Swimming Federation of India, claimed the gold medal in 4:56.49.

“I would have liked to have chased him down and won,” Mazurek added. “But it was a good race and it is always nice coming home to compete.”

Philip Hagen, of Sharks Swim Club, won the bronze after touching the wall in 5:19.78.

Emma Harvey, of Harbour Amateur Swim Club, won the gold medal in the girls’ 12 and under 400 metres medley in 5:32.98, competing in the event in a long-course pool for the first time.

“It is the first time I have swum the 400 IM on the long course, so I am really happy with that time,” she said. “It is great to come back and do all the meets, especially national championships. And to have won this is really exciting.”

Skyler Powell, of Sharks Swim Club, who covered the distance in 6:09.71, was the only other competitor in the girls 12-and-under field.

The girls’ 13-and-over 400 medley also involved only two swimmers, with Chloe Mazurek, of Swim Atlanta Georgia, taking the gold medal in 5:56.31 and Megan Lau, of Dolphin Swim Team, claiming silver in 6:09.73.

Also yesterday, Lisa Blackburn and Rebecca Heyliger came up short in their attempts to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in a 50 metres breaststroke time-trial and 50 metres butterfly preliminary heat.

Blackburn’s time of 34.65 was more than a second off the qualifying mark in what was her first attempt at making the grade.

The veteran swimmer will now try to lower her time when she takes two more shots at qualifying for Glasgow 2014 this weekend, in the 50 metres and 100 metres breaststroke.

“There are no guarantees, but I am going to race hard and do my best,” Blackburn said. “I am going to improve on a few things I felt I can do better and we will see.”

Heyliger’s time of 29.25 was more than a second shy of the standard in what was her second attempt at qualifying.

Like Blackburn, Heyliger will have another shot at making the grade during the final two days of the championships involving local and overseas swimmers.