"By doing this today it means I have a year to prepare for the Olympics with the race on this same course. I'm delighted to qualify and to get it done at the first opportunity."
Water temperatures were such that it was a non-wetsuit swim for the 64-strong field with Hewitt and fellow-Kiwis Kate McIlroy and Debbie Tanner all coping well to emerge in touch with the lead pack on to the bike leg.
Not so Nicky Samuels though, the Wanaka triathlete exited the water in 37th place, leaving her down by over a minute after the first of eight laps in a chase group of 25 that included current world number one Barbara Riveros Diaz of Chile and rising Australian star Emma Jackson.
With most of the heavy hitters in the lead group of 34, there was little action at the front, with most content to ride in the bunch and conserve for the 10km run.
This group included Hewitt, Debbie Tanner and Kate McIlroy and the relative lack of effort from the leaders allowed the chasers to slowly but surely close the gap, with the catch made on the final lap.
From that point it came down to a foot race and it was Jenkins who thrilled the home fans lining the streets of London as she pulled away in the middle stages to win comfortably from relative unknown Gwen Jorgenson of the United States and German veteran Anja Dittmer who qualified for her fourth Olympic Games with her third place.
Hewitt said Jenkins made her move at just the wrong time for the Kiwi to respond.
"At about the four kilometre mark I bridged a sizeable gap across to the lead group of four and as soon as I made contact, Helen made her move and I simply couldn't risk a response at that time.
"The middle stages were then really a case of hanging on until Anja came past and I went with her until the final kilometre or so.
"Today was all about the run though after a steady swim and then the big group coming together on the bike.
"It was tough too around Serpentine Lake, it is so flat and the pace was really fast as a result. Top ten was the goal today and I am really pleased, I'll go away now and work on finding more speed in that middle stage of the race for next year."
The news wasn't so good for the other Kiwis though with Tanner and Samuels finishing over two minutes behind Jenkins while McIlroy withdrew midway through the run, clearly not over the recent torn calf muscle that has restricted her run training.
The Kiwis will have another opportunity to qualify for the London Olympic Games at a yet to be confirmed world championship series event early next year.
The men were to race tonoight (starting midnight NZT) with Bevan Docherty, Kris Gemmell, Ryan Sissons, James Elvery and Clark Ellice on the start line looking for a top ten finish and a nomination to London.
World championship series London, women's results (1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run)
Elite Women
Helen Jenkins (Britain) 2hr 00min 34sec 1, Gwen Jorgensen (US) 2:00:41 2, Anja Dittmer (Germany) 2:00:49 3.
New Zealanders: Andrea Hewitt 2:00:54 6, Debbie Tanner 2:02:53 35, Nicky Samuels 2:03:25 40, Kate McIlroy DNF.
- NZPA
