CHARLOTTE Purdue finished fifth at the BUPA Great Edinburgh X-Country, helping Great Britain to claim the team prize in the process.

The Hook runner was among the leaders from the start and was sixth at the end of the opening 2km lap, safely in a leading group of seven.

She moved up to fourth on lap two but had lost contact with the leaders, British teammates Gemma Steel and Emelia Gorecka, and was fighting for third place with former European champion Fionnuala Britton (Ireland).

Britton came on strong on the third and final lap, eventually passing Gorecka to finish second, while Sophie Duarte of France pipped Purdue to fourth place, catching her on the final climb.

The 22-year-old admitted that she did not feel at her best after the race but completed the 6km course in 20min 59sec, finishing 24 seconds behind Steel.

Her efforts were very much not in vain as Purdue was a member of the Great Britain team that saw off teams from the USA and Europe to claim overall victory.