Julian Fletcher turned in his best-ever performance at the Carifta Championships in Aruba on Thursday night to snatch the bronze medal.

Competing in the senior boys' age group final of the 200 metres breaststroke, Fletcher clipped over six seconds off his previous best time as he finished third in the final

Ashley Yearwood, meanwhile, missed out on a bronze by less than two tenths of a second as she finished fourth in the girls' 50 metres backstroke in the 13 to 14 age group. Yearwood also qualified for two finals last night - in the 200 metres freestyle and the 50 metres butterfly and set another two age-group records in the process.

And those performances meant she has also qualified for the FINA World Youth Championships in Monterrey, Mexico in July.

Her sister, Nicole, also enjoyed an excellent swim in the senior girls' version of the same event.

Yesterday morning's heats saw another series of fine performances by the Bermuda team as seven swimmers advanced to eight finals last night.

Leading the rush was Rebecca Sharpe, who was the top qualifier in the 100 metres backstroke in the senior girls' age group.

Nick Thomson was also well placed in the senior boys' version of the same event as he went into the final as the second fastest qualifier. Rachael Petty also had an outstanding swim in the 13-14 girls' 100 metres as she too qualified in second place.

The meet has taken on extra impetus as it has been recognised by FINA as an Oylmpic qualifying meet.