KATE AVERY added another senior medal to her collection as she finished second in the European Cross-Country Championships for the second year in succession.

Avery, who is from Newton Aycliffe and a member of Shildon Harriers, underlined her status as one of Britain’s leading long-distance performers as she claimed second position in Hyeres, France.

With Holland’s Sifan Hassan producing a dominant display that saw her establish an unassailable advantage from an early stage of the race, Avery was part of a chasing pack that were involved in a hard-fought tussle for the medals.

However, a fantastic last lap enabled her to pull clear of her pursuers and she eventually finished two seconds ahead of Norway’s Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal, who claimed the bronze medal.

With Steph Twell finishing fifth, reigning champion Gemma Steel coming home in eighth and Lauren Howarth claiming 17th position, the British team retained their team title by a comfortable margin.

“I got silver last year, but I have had a very different build up this time,” said Avery, who finished in fourth position in the final of the 10,000m at last year’s Commonwealth Games, and who will be targeting a place in the same event at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“I didn’t expect to be here, so I came into the race not knowing what to expect, and I am thrilled to come away with a silver medal.

“I’ve finished behind an amazing athlete in Sifan Hassan, so there isn’t much more I could have asked for there.”

Northallerton’s Marc Scott finished fifth in the Under-23 men’s race, which was won by his fellow Briton Jonathan Davies.

Scott’s performance helped the Under-23 men claim a team silver medal, with just two points separating them from the gold-medal winners Spain.