Hewitt eager to win next ITU event

Andrea Hewitt is still in the running to get a podium finish at the end of the World Triathlon series despite a sixth place in Hamburg.

The Kiwi athlete is now recovering in Germany after coming close to getting third in the ITU series event last weekend, before settling for sixth, 52 seconds behind winner Flora Duffy of Bermuda.

Hewitt was happy with her result, but lost some time in the swim. ‘‘Once you have a bad start in a world series race, it is a swim fight until the exit ramp of the swim which I got to in 42nd place. I rode well and caught up to the chase on the bike and I ran a 16.33 5km to finish in a time of 59.52.’’

Hewitt, who is now fifth overall in the series, is hopeful she can gain some ground and catch up with her biggest threat.

‘‘Duffy is in the form of her life, she has broken away on the swim - bike and won all three races she has entered so far this year.’’

Hewitt said it was possible to win the series, but she would need to win her events as well as have other results work in her favour.

While Hewitt will be sitting out the next race in Edmonton in Canada, Duffy won’t be racing in Stockholm giving the Kiwi an opening to catchup. Duffy had to pull out of the first two races of the season due to injury.

‘‘Yes, it is possible the way the points system works to win the world series . . . . there is an opening there.’’

Hewitt has won two of the three world series circuits she has compete in this year, the first in the Gold Coast and the second in Abu Dhabi. She failed to continue that form in the third race in Yokohama Japan, where the cold waters meant she finished 23rd.

Her two first placings in March and April mean Hewitt has already qualified for the Commonwealth Games next year in Queensland.

The world championships are decided in Rotterdam in September.