3 Jul 2016

Hewitt now second in triathlon rankings

2:55 pm on 3 July 2016

New Zealand triathletes Andrea Hewitt and Nicky Samuels are showing good form ahead of the Olympics.

New Zealand triathlete Andrea Hewitt.

New Zealand triathlete Andrea Hewitt. Photo: Photosport

Hewitt moved to second place on the overall World Triathlon Series rankings after a silver medal winning performance at the latest round in Stockholm overnight.

Nicky Samuels also posted the best performance of her season in finishing 8th.

The race was won by Bermuda's Flora Duffy, after again breaking away in a now familiar sight on the bike and holding on over the run, while Hewitt outsprinted Helen Jenkins of Great Britain for the silver medal.

"The course is really tough, there are a lot of turns. That first lap on the bike was a bit sketchy just getting around some of the corners and the run with the cobbles, it was a difficult day," said Hewitt.

"It was crazy, Duffy had over a minute at one stage, and on the run I don't think we put much time on her so she was the strongest today."

The other Zealander in the race Simone Ackermann finished in 27th place on the tough Stockholm course.

The men's race saw the Brownlee brothers of Great Britain fire another warning shot ahead of the Olympics, with Alistair winning from brother Jonathan, both in the process showing that with six weeks until Rio they are approaching their best form and will again be medal contenders.