Another day, another personal best, another national record.

Like the proverbial good wine, Ashley Couper keeps getting better.

And it doesn?t come any better than running a lifetime best in front of a packed crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where the 28-year-old California-based Bermudian last night once again lowered her own Island record in the Commonwealth Games final of the 1500 metres.

Taking her place alongside some of the world?s leading middle distance runners, Couper showed enormous courage as she hung on determinedly to claim ninth place in the 12-runner final, bettering again the national record she had eclipsed just 24 hours earlier in the semi-final.

Having slashed six seconds off her PB with a time of four minutes 11.03 seconds, this time Couper hit the finish in 4:10.48, some four seconds behind gold medallist Lisa Dobriskey from England.

Australian Sarah Jamieson grabbed silver in 4:06.64 and Wales? Hayley Tullett in 4:06.76, but Couper, cheered on by a large Bermuda contingent including mother Peggy, father Colin, sister Heather and cousin Tyler Butterfield, also made it a night to remember as she bravely battled down the final straight to overhaul Scotland?s Hayley Ovens and Canada?s Hilary Stellingwerf and claim a place in the Commonwealth?s top ten.

?With about 400 to go I was hurting so much,? said an emotional Couper afterwards. ?But with 300 to go, I thought ?you know what, I do fast 300s in practice all the time, I can do this?.

?I saw one girl ahead of me and I thought ?if I fight, I can get her? and I did and then I overtook another one.

?That last lap was so painful but it was good to have them there pushing me to the finish.

?I?m really happy. This is unbelievable. Manchester four years ago I missed because of a stress fracture, and I was disappointed. So I was excited to just be here, and then my goal was to have a PR (personal record), and I?ve had a seven-second PR . . . I?ve made the final, awesome!

?The Bermudians in the crowd tonight, my family, I heard them every single lap, so I really have to thank everybody for their support, especially this week.

?All the people back in Bermuda . . . I?ve received so many e-mails wishing me luck, and from people in California who I train with.

?My coach (in California) has stuck with me all the way, through all the injuries, and I?m so grateful to him, and then of course, my fiance who?s kept me on track and my parents as well.?

Couper revealed she had intended to retire from athletics after these Games, but admitted last night to having second thoughts.

?I really thought I was going to retire but you know what, I?m going to have to rethink that.

?My fiance, Chris, is probably also going to aim for the Olympics (2008 Beijing) and I think maybe we can do it together.?