Swimming: Price on brink of breaking own British record

With just 55 days remaining until the Commonwealth Games, Sarah Price provided another sneak preview into what she will have to offer in Manchester. The 23-year-old from Barnet was within a whisker of breaking her own British record at the British Super Grand Prix in Glasgow last night, maintaining her place at the top of the Commonwealth rankings in the 200 metres backstroke with a time of 2.11.13 seconds.

"I felt very strong but my speed isn't quite there yet," Price said. "I'm so confident now. To be able to race like that is great." But for those anxious to see British swimming prosper, Price's promising form cannot come devoid of a sense of foreboding. She has yet to win a medal at a major long course championship, despite holding three Commonwealth records, a statistic she is eager to change. "The Commonwealths will see the end of that little story and the start of a whole new chapter for me," said Price. "That's all in the past now, and I'm only looking forward."

Mark Foster's appearance in Glasgow was a fleeting gesture, an exercise in appeasing the national performance director Bill Sweetenham, who demands that all Commonwealth Games qualifiers compete here. Foster flew to Glasgow for one heat-swim before leaving for a Grand Prix meet in Slovenia. Foster will line up against the Olympic champion Anthony Ervin of the United States and the Commonwealth record holder, Roland Schoeman of South Africa, later today.

"It's not ideal, but there can't be one rule for one and one rule for another," Foster said. "The rules say I had to swim here, so I did. I agree that everyone needs to race but it makes more sense for me to compete in quality races abroad. What's the point in racing only British swimmers? If you want to be the best, you've got to race the best."