Katie Armitage has set her second lifetime best today to qualify for the final of the 100m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games.

The 18-year-old, who comes from Bushey and is representing host nation Scotland in Glasgow, finished third in the first semi-final in a time of 1.08.69 – an improvement of 12 hundredths of a second on her heat time.

Drawn next to the fastest qualifier for the final, Alia Atkinson, the former Bushey and Watford swimming clubs competitor was in fifth or sixth place at the halfway stage.

However, as the field began to come back to the Jamican in the closing stages, Armitage continued to show composure and maturity to – for the second time today – edge out 50m breaststroke gold medallist Leiston Pickett to clinch third behind Atkinson (1.06.87) and Canada’s Tera van Beilen (1.08.11).

The second semi-final was won by England’s Sophie Taylor (1.07.20), meaning Armitage goes into tomorrow night’s final at the Tollcross Swimming Centre ranked seventh fastest of the eight who will contest the medals.

To read how Armitage secured her place in the semi-finals, click here.