record for the second time in two years.

The Pembroke athlete, who runs for the Stanford University Cardinals team, knocked a whopping five seconds off the previous record, according to her mother Peggy.

Couper was taking part in the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California, over the weekend when she recorded the time in a field that included many US universities and overseas teams from Mexico, Great Britain, Canada and Jamaica among others. However, last night official results had still to be posted.

Last May, while competing for the University of Vermont, Couper broke the then record when she crossed the line in a time of 4:28.21.

This time out she broke the tape in a time of just over 4:23.

Mrs. Couper said her daughter called in the early hours of yesterday morning.

"She was very, very excited. It would have been 3.00 a.m. her time. That gives you an idea,'' she said.

"She is not one to make advance announcements but I had a feeling because when she phoned me before she said `mum, I think it's going to be good'.'' Although her best performances have come in the 1500m, Couper has been training at lesser distances.

"She has been doing a lot of 800m training. We were questioning that and saying `why are you doing 800m, because you are not an 800m runner. But I think the coach knew what he was doing,'' said Mrs. Couper.

In January, Couper set the record in the women's Front Street Mile when she crossed the line in 5:01.02, bettering the time of 5:02 shared by Karen Adams and Jennifer Fisher.

Ashley Couper: Lowered her own 1500m track record.