The pair were among a world-class field of 36 modern pentathletes battling for a top-eight finish that would achieve the Olympic qualification standard at today’s final in Latvia.
 
Twenty-four-year-old Fell, who lives near Tavistock in Devon, was fifth going into the final discipline – the 3k run.

 

But she crossed the line second just behind Russia’s Evdokia Gretchichnikova, who took gold with 5496 points. Fell finished with 5492 points.
 
Livingston, 23, the 2003 world junior champion, climbed three places in the run to secure an all-important top-eight finish – and with it the Olympic qualification standard.
 
“It was an amazing feeling to be on the podium. It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Fell two hours after the end of the competition.

 

“At the beginning of the season I didn’t expect to make the Europeans, so I was ecstatic just to be selected to compete here.
 
“I didn’t come here expecting to get a medal.

 

"I was flattered just to be here, and getting into the final was a big achievement for me."
 
Fell took a big step forward when she took 0.2 seconds off her six-year-old personal best in the third discipline, the 200 metres swim.

 

“I really don’t know where that came from,” she said.
 
“Going into the run I knew I could get a top-eight finish, but I wanted a medal so much.
 
“Everyone here has been so supportive of me."
 
Jan Bartu, GB performance director, said: “It was one of the toughest competitions in the history of women’s pentathlon.

 

"There were 36 top athletes here all looking for a place in the top eight.
 
“Our girls came up with the goods.

 

"They really were competitive today.

 

"They fought very well.
 
“It’s very encouraging because two of them now have the qualification standard for Beijing and the other two were very close.
 
“Having two British athletes qualified for the Games already gives us a boost for the future.
 
“It’s great for the coaching and management team here."
 
A top eight place does not guarantee a place on the team for Beijing. 

 

There are further opportunities for GB athletes to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games, including the 2007 and 2008 World Championships.

 

Up to two men and two women per country may qualify for the Games and total of 36 men and 36 women will compete in the Modern Pentathlon at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

 

Livingston took the early initiative in today’s final in Riga, scoring 184 in the pistol shooting range for 1144 points to emerge from the first round joint fourth on the leader board.
 
Fell and Spence both scored 180 in the shooting for 1096 points, to both stand joint 11th.

 

But Olympic bronze medallist Georgina Harland had a disappointing shoot, her score of 160 earned her 856 points, and she never really recovered.
 
Livingston’s 17 wins and 18 defeats in the fencing salle gave her 808 points, leaving her in seventh place with two disciplines down.

 

Spence just managed more victories than defeats – 18 to 17 – for 832 points, staying 11th. 

 

Like Livingston, Fell and Harland both recorded 17 wins and 18 defeats for 808 points, putting them 16th and 25th overall.
 
Fell’s strong performance in the pool propelled her to fifth place.

 

Her time of 2:10.35 – a personal best - was third quickest and earned her 1356 points. Spence clocked 2:14.17 – the seventh quickest time – for 1312 points – putting her joint eighth.

 

Livingston swam 2:16.57 for 1,284 points and 12th place overall, while Harland’s 2:17.82 gave her 1268 points and 33rd place with the ride and the run remaining.
 
There was still everything to fight for after the penultimate discipline, the ride.

 

Fell held on to fifth place with 1144 points, while Livingston was within sight of a top-eight finish in ninth place. 

 

Her 1,116 points from the ride put her just eight points away from the all-important eighth place.
 
Spence’s 1004 points in the ride put her 13th overall and 116 points off eighth place.

 

Harland remained in the bottom half of the field in 27th, despite accumulating 1112 points from the ride.
 
Fell produced a strong run.

 

Her time of 10:58.74 was the seventh fastest, worth 1,088 points – and enough to take silver with a total of 5492 points.

 

Livingston also ran well and produced the ninth best time of 11:00.07 to score 1080 points in the final discipline for 5432 in total – putting her sixth overall.
 
Harland’s produced the fastest run in the field to cross the line in 10.23.45.

 

Her 1,228 points pushed her up to 12th overall with 5,272 points, but she had left it too late to surge into the top eight.

 

Spence crossed the line in 11.30.9, yielding 960 points for a final tally of 5,204 for 18th place overall.
 
Great Britain’s trio of Harland, Livingston and Spence won silver in the team event behind Italy. Britain’s women return to action on Tuesday in the team relay.