WILTSHIRE swimmer Jazz Carlin progressed smoothly through to the final of the women's 200m freestyle with a new personal best and Welsh record in the heats on the first day of Commonwealth Games competition in Glasgow this morning.

Two-time Commonwealth Games medallist Carlin, a former Wootton Bassett School pupil, clocked 1:57.61, just inside the qualifying time she had achieved to swim the event at the Games, as she finished second in the fourth of four heats at the Tollcross Centre.

Carlin, 23, finished second behind Australia's Emma McKeon, who set a new Commonwealth Games record of 1:56.57, just minutes after England's Siobhan-Marie O'Connor had done likewise in the prior heat.

Carlin, ranked number one in the Commonwealth in the 400m and 800m events, which she is also contesting in Glasgow, was fourth fastest heading into tonight's final, which is at 7.35pm.

Meanwhile, Melksham's Rachel Williams was also in action in her Wales' team-mate's heat this morning, with the 20-year-old finishing sixth in 2:0184.

Elsewhere, former Marlborough College student and defending champion Jason Dunford (Kenya) was second in his 50m butterfly heat in 23.76.

Swindon's Tilly Gray reached the semi finals of the women's 100m butterfly.

Having only been told earlier this week she would be swimming in the event, as well as her favoured 200m, Gray clocked 1:01.03 to finish fifth in her heat and qualifying 13th fastest.

NEWS OF WILLIAMS' PROGRESS AND MORE COMMONWELATH GAMES NEWS & REACTION AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK/SPORT AND WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK/SPORT AND IN THE GAZETTE & HERALD AND WILTSHIRE TIMES