SHILDON’S Kate Avery has received a late call-up to the English athletics team for the Commonwealth Games.

Avery, who is currently training in the United States after securing a track-and-field scholarship at Iona College in New York, was promoted to the starting line-up of the 10,000m after Jo Pavey opted only to run in the 5,000m in Glasgow.

Pavey had originally been intending to double up in both distance events, but her decision to drop out of the 10,000m created a space that Avery has been selected to fill.

It will be the 22-year-old’s first senior appearance at a major championships, and marks another significant step forward in her career.

A former junior winner at The Northern Echo’s Local Heroes awards, Avery caught the eye last month when she broke her outdoor personal best as she finished ninth in the 3,000m at the European Team Championships in Germany.

She claimed a silver medal in the 5,000m at last year’s European Under-23 Championships, and will contest the Commonwealth 10,000m along with fellow English runners Julia Bleasdale and Sonia Samuels next Tuesday.