HEYWOOD swimmer Keri-Anne Payne failed to make the final of the 400m individual medley at the Olympics in Beijing on Saturday.

The Stockport Metro swimmer was fifth in her heat in a time of  4.38.60 – four seconds behind the winner and fastest qualifier, American Elizabeth Beisel.

The time was just 0.30 of a second outside the 21-year-old’s personal best set earlier this year.

She said: “The first swim of the meet is always difficult but I am really pleased with that. I am really happy to be here.”

GB team-mate Hannah Miley took the eighth spot in Sunday’s final with a time of 4.36.56.

Payne has two more events in Beijing later in the week – the 400m individual medley and the gruelling 10km open water swim.

Of the open water swim, which is expected to take around two hours to complete on Wednesday, August 20, she said: “I have a week between swims so I should have enough time to recover."