Semi-finalist in the 100 metres backstroke on Friday, 22-year-old Kiera Aitken went one better yesterday, twice smashing her own national record to storm into tonight?s final of the 50 backstroke.

Ducking under the 30-second barrier for the first time, the softly-spoken Bermudian, who won her heat and set a new national mark at the Athens Olympics two years ago, described her fourth-place finish behind two Australians and a New Zealander in last night?s semi as ?the best swim of my life?.

It may also have created a piece of local swimming history, nobody in the Island contingent at these Games recalling a Bermudian female having ever reached a Commonwealth final.

Aitken?s day began with a bang as she powered to third place in her morning heat, and it just kept getting better.

After clocking 30 seconds exactly in Melbourne?s spectacular Sports and Aquatic Centre in a heat in which Australian Giaan Rooney smashed the Games record with a scorching 28.58, Aitken returned in the evening to swim even faster.

Again up against gold medal favourite Rooney, Aitken took fourth in the second semi-final with yet another new record of 29.99. Rooney, meanwhile, lowered her own mark to 28.42.

Aitken was the seventh fastest of the eight final qualifiers, and while she won?t be seen as a medal contender tonight, she will be aiming to break her own record for the third time in as many races.

?That?s my goal, to get another PB and break the record again,? she said just minutes after climbing out of the pool.

?I don?t think I have much chance in the final against the Australians and the New Zealanders, but I?d be really happy with another PB.?

Of her semi-final swim, she added: ?I think it?s my best ever. It?s a PB and this morning was a PB as well, but it?s good to go under 30 seconds for the first time. That?s a big barrier for me.

?This morning my PB was beaten by about three tenths of a second. So I?m very happy.

?It?s been my best Games ever. I?ve made two semi-finals. That?s big for me.?

Originally scheduled to swim the 200 backstroke heats this morning, the Dalhousie University student has now scratched from that event in order to focus on the 50 final.

?I?m going to get some sleep and get myself mentally ready. I know it?s going to be tough against these girls but I?ll go out and have fun and enjoy the crowd, and hopefully get another record.?

Aitken also competed in yesterday?s 50 metres freestyle, placing fourth in the third of four heats in a time of 28.25, but it wasn?t enough to get her through to a third semi-final.

Fellow team member Michael O?Connor also failed to advance from the 100m butterfly heats, placing sixth in heat three in a time of 58.05. The race was won by Scotland?s Todd Cooper in 53.64. O?Connor?s time ranked 21st among the 32 entries.

Other Bermudians to see action at the Games yesterday included shooters Nelson Simons and Walter Trott who were among teams from 19 countries for the Full Bore Pairs.

Compiling a points total of 518.30 Simons with 274.20 and Trott with 244.10 ? they placed 18th, ahead of only the team from Antigua and Barbuda.

Without a full bore range in Bermuda, Simons and Trott had only been able to prepare for the event during trips over the last year to Canada and Jamaica.

Yesterday?s event took place at the Wellsford Rifle Range in Bendigo, a two hour drive north of Melbourne.