Last pipped to the medal places in Glasgow
23-year-old Last finished fourth after a late burst through the gears at the Cathkin Braes Trail just outside Glasgow.
The riders raced over six laps of an unforgiving course that was a combination of dirt track, grass and wooded areas.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe cross-country event returned to the Games programme for a third time after an eight-year gap.
Canada’s Catharine Pendrel dominated the race to take gold in a time of one minute, 39.29 seconds.
Pendrel was followed by her team-mate Emily Batty who managed to pull clear of Australian Rebecca Henderson late on to complete a Canadian one-two.
Last kept a steady pace throughout the contest and it was only at the death that she pounced to claim fourth after a strong final lap.
She managed to narrowly pip her Team England colleague Alice Barnes, with a final time of one minute, 42.34 seconds.