CHARLIE Purdue produced another impressive performance to finish fourth in the Great Manchester Run on Sunday.

The 20-year-old from Hook was the first British woman home, completing the 10 kilometre course in 32min 15sec after running a strong race.

Purdue was prominent near the front of the race from the start and part of a group of nine runners who broke away early on. That group was reduced to eight by the time they went through 3km, while an injection of pace saw a further two runners dropped, including Gemma Steel, one of Purdue’s rivals for a place in the Olympic 10,000m team.

Eventual winner Linet Masai of Kenya made her move just before the halfway mark, blowing the leading group apart, but Purdue stayed strong to run at her own pace and finish fourth.

Speaking after the race, Purdue said: “I’m really pleased. I’m in a good block of training at the moment and my target is to make the 10,000m team for the Olympics. That’s the main aim and this race today was a big stepping stone towards that.

“The trials are the big thing and I have a 10,000m on the track in two weeks. Hopefully I can get a personal best and maybe even the qualifying standard for the Olympics.”