Ashley Couper improved on her qualifying time for the women's 1,500 metres final at the Commonwealth Games today, but had to settle for ninth in the strong field.

Couper set a new national record of four minutes, 10.48 seconds in the race today, less than four seconds off England's Lisa Dobriskey's gold medal time of four minutes 6.21 seconds.

Couper also shaved 0.15 of a second off her previous record and personal best set in the semi-finals of four minutes, 11.03 seconds.

Meanwhile, her cousin Tyler Butterfield ? Bermuda's best hope in men's cycling ? came 23rd in the 40-kilometer Time Trial with a time of 55.37, seven minutes off the blistering pace set by gold medal winner Nathan O'Neill of Australia.