Emma Harvey’s superb performances at the Pan American Games continued with a national record as she qualified for the 100 metres backstroke final on Monday.

Harvey’s time of 1min 02.42sec knocked 0.2sec off the time set by Kiera Aitken at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and put the seal on making her first final at a major Games.

“I’m really, really excited,” an ecstatic Harvey said in the interview zone in Santiago after her race.

“I’m somebody who gets so nervous but I was racing off the adrenaline of yesterday and just really happy.”

Harvey’s fast finish is becoming customary at these Games. She came from sixth to win the B final in the 100 metres butterfly on Sunday night and her late speed was again evident in her backstroke heat, in which she was closing fast at the death.

“This is the first meet ever where my second 50 has been my strongest,” Harvey said.

“Normally I’m more of a traditional sprinter so I usually go with a lot of speed and try to hang on, but I guess my training has been going really well and I have more endurance than I thought for this time of year.”

The 100 metres backstroke final takes place at 5pm on Monday and Harvey is hoping that the excitement of the big race will be a catalyst for a faster start.

I’ll probably be a tad more aggressive but that will probably come from the nerves and adrenaline, so just with the pressure of the situation I think I’ll probably going faster in the first 50,“ she said.

Check out our live blog for the final