KENT'S reigning European Junior Cross Country Champion Charlotte Dale produced another breathtaking performance by clocking 54:28 for second place on her 10-mile debut in the BUPA Great South Run at Portsmouth.

It makes the Invicta East Kent athlete from Whitstable the third-fastest in the UK behind Paula Radcliffe and Kathy Butler in this year's senior women's rankings.

The 19-year-old, who is based at the UK Athletics Endurance Performance Centre at St Mary's University Twickenham, will now prepare for the defence of her European title in Edinburgh on December 14.

She starts with two races in one afternoon at the Reebok Birmingham Cross Challenge on Saturday, November 1.

And Dale will embark on her tough training schedule with confidence high after starting worried and stiff, but finishing a wonderful second to one of her training partners Sonia O'Sullivan, who clocked 53:26.

She was well clear of third-placed Australian Natalie Harvey, who is also based in London and who crossed the line in 55:43. Liz Colgan was fourth in 56:12.