Commonwealth Games: Harder hill course gives Hewitt hope for spot on podium

Andrea Hewitt is ranked third at Glasgow. Picture / AP

Kiwis love a good climb and Andrea Hewitt is no different, meaning her medal prospects in Glasgow are stronger than ever.

One of this country's most consistent athletes on the global stage, Hewitt has never quite produced an indelible performance at a major international event, the type recalled whenever another Olympics or Commonwealth Games rolls around.

She may not have a better chance than tonight (NZT) in Glasgow, considering the course, the competitors and her preparation.

On the first point, Hewitt estimates the organisers have been rather kind to the Kiwis, who generally prefer an undulating run. It's why they enjoy coming home to race in Auckland, and partly why Hewitt failed to meet expectations at the last Olympics.

There she finished sixth, undone by a flat track that rendered the event a running race. But, two years later the course, just outside of Glasgow, is ideal for her tenacious approach to triathlon.

"A harder course suits, because I've had better results on harder courses," she said. "It's not so much a pure runner's course when it's not flat.

"I like the hills and, based on my results and what happens in races, it suits me."

What also suits Hewitt is a field stripped of top English triathlete Helen Jenkins, whose withdrawal through injury came as "a surprise" to the Kiwi. It left Hewitt ranked third among the Commonwealth athletes, behind England's Jodie Stimpson and Australia's Emma Jackson.

Whether Hewitt can produce a performance to replicate those rankings is a great unknown, but she knows her preparation will hold no excuses no matter the result.

It didn't always look like that would be the case, after fiance and French triathlete Laurent Vidal suffered a heart attack in April. But Hewitt said that incident, from which Vidal has fully recovered, could have aided her training.

Where in the past the pair trained together, with different targets, the focus has been firmly on Hewitt.

"He's on the side of the pool now telling me my strokes," Hewitt said. "I've got him every time telling me what to do. I guess now I would say it's helped me."

Hewitt hopes that help will be enough to secure a podium place, with a top result at the Games or the Olympics the only achievement missing from a bulging CV. It's telling that, on her personal website, Hewitt's numerous golds and silvers have come from the world series or world championships, with a bronze at the 2006 Melbourne Games the only medal captured while casual Kiwi fans watched on.

The latest chance was a let-down in London, but Hewitt is determined to demonstrate her credentials to the public this time around.

"I ran the best that I could [in London] and it was a running race in the end. I made that front group, so that was the best that I could do, but sixth wasn't good enough.

"[In Glasgow] I definitely want to show that I can win."