HEATHER FELL described herself 'relatively satisfied' with her top-five finish for Great Britain in the first modern pentathlon World Cup event of the season in Mexico.

Olympic silver medallist Fell recovered from an average swim to take 26 wins from the fencing event, giving her an excellent 1000 points and leaving her just one win behind the three-way tie for first place.

Tavistock's Fell then went on to clock up another solid points total in the ride before recording the day's fourth-fastest time in the combined event to create an overall points total of 5340.

"I'm still not at my best but I'm relatively satisfied with my performance overall," said Fell.

"Mexico was my first World Cup since last autumn and it shows I'm not a million miles away from the level I aiming at.

"I had a pretty ordinary swim but I was pleased with my fencing and riding.

"Although I'm not fooling myself into thinking the opposition was the strongest, it wasn't.

"It will be a lot, lot harder at the World Cup at Medway next month, which we're all gearing ourselves towards.

"So, Mexico was both a useful gauge of where I'm at, and also a wake-up call for me."

The 27-year-old Fell was one of two Great Britain modern pentathletes to gain top-eight finishes at the Playa del Carmen.

Scotland's former world junior team gold medallist Louise Helyer was nearest to Fell, with 20-year-old Samantha Murray, the third member of the GB women's individual crew, coming 16th overall on her World Cup debut.

Germany's Lena Schoneborn was the overall winner, helped by some outstanding fencing and riding as well as a solid performance in the combined event.

Margaux Isaksen, of the United Staes took the silver medal, with Russian Evdokia Gretchichnikova, taking bronze.

Fell, who only returned from Mexico yesterday, heads north today to the less glamorous but no less worthy city of Sheffield.

She is a willing spokesperson for the government-funded initiative which is geared toward encouraging university students to take up sport.

"It's something I feel passionate about, as I feel sport is a vital element to enjoying your time and getting the best at university," said Fell.

"Students may not have had the advantage of good sports facilities previously, and when they go to Uni, they suddenly find there's an opportunity for them.

"I'm delighted to help raise the awareness of this new scheme."

Fell is back in action at the weekend where will be representing her county at the national Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships in Birmingham. She will be running for Devon at Cofton Park, Longbridge, and Fell is anticipating a tough test of her fitness.

"It's an 8km cross country run – I don't think I've run that far before, so I'm not expecting a fast time," said Fell.

"But I've been asked to go and I'm very happy to do so."