Triathlon: Hewitt in top form for final

New Zealand triathlete Andrea Hewitt confirmed her top three world ranking with a silver medal performance at the Yokohama round of the ITU Dextro Energy world championship series yesterday.

In hot and humid conditions, Hewitt was again at the front of the field during the 10km run, shadowing eventual winner Lisa Norden throughout until the tall Swede made the vital break with 200m left to run.

Hewitt (Christchurch) and 13th-placed Debbie Tanner (Auckland) enjoyed steady if not spectacular swims, emerging in the second pack in 10th and 11th places respectively.

The locals showed up early, with Chie Kakashima, Akane Tsuchihashi, Mariko Adachi and Juri Ide all in the top eight out of the 1500m swim.

Norden, Daniela Ryf of Switzerland and Germany's Ricarda Lisk were in the same group as the Kiwis, while race favourite Nicola Spirig, also of Switzerland, was a further 20s behind.

On the 40km bike leg, Annabel Luxford (Australia), Sarah Haskins (US), Liz Blatchford (Great Britain) and Nakashima broke away, leaving a large chase group, including Hewitt and Tanner, 24s back.

But the combined power of the chase group of 14 riders made steady inroads, catching the leaders on lap three of eight. Spirig was stranded 47s behind, with just Jodie Swallow (Great Britain) for company but in an incredible show of her strength on the bike, Spirig slowly closed the gap, joining the lead group near the end of the ride.

Hewitt and Tanner positioned themselves superbly at the end of the bike, with Hewitt in third and Tanner in eighth. Hewitt took the lead as they headed out on to the 10km run with Tanner in 10th, five seconds behind. Sweetland and Spirig slowly fell off the pace but Hewitt and Tanner remained right in among it as Kiyomi Niwata and Ide set the pace in front of their home fans.

Gradually athletes fell off the pace, struggling in some of the hottest conditions seen for a major triathlon all year - Tanner among them; the oppressive conditions and the effects of London a week ago taking a toll.

In the final 2km, Hewitt, Norden and Ide were running shoulder to shoulder, with Norden and Ide trying on a number of occasions to break away. Finally Norden's burst 200m out saw first Ide and then Hewitt conceding defeat.

The result will only strengthen Hewitt's position heading into the final world championship event next month on the Gold Coast, with points multiplied there with each athlete counting their top four results towards their final world ranking.