Multisport: Hewitt holds on for second in Madrid

New Zealand triathlete Andrea Hewitt continued her meteoric rise yesterday, finishing second in the International Triathlon Union World Cup in Spain.

Hewitt, in her first full year at the top level, finished second to Portugal's Vanessa Fernandes in Madrid, and fellow New Zealander Nicky Samuels finished fourth.

Hewitt nearly stole a march on the field when she joined American Sarah Haskins to open a 1m 45s lead off the bike but she was run down by Fernandes, the hottest triathlete in the world. The 23-year-old, who took up the sport only last year, is the world under-23 champion and won the bronze medal at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in just her fifth full distance triathlon.

Hewitt was in the lead group of 11 out of the 1.5km swim, although they were caught on the 40km bike. The New Zealander and Haskins made their move as soon as the chase pack swallowed up the leaders to make a telling break.

The efforts on the bike took its toll on Hewitt, who was caught by Fernandes on the second lap on the run, but held on strongly for an impressive second place ahead of Spanish favourite Ana Bugos.

"Second place in a World Cup is great for me," said Hewitt. "I'm very happy. After the swim I was in the lead group and the girls weren't really working so I decided to go.

"I tried on the third lap but wasn't successful and then on the next lap Sarah [Haskins] came with me and we got away.

"It was the exact opposite of what I was supposed to do. My coach told me not to work on the bike, concentrate on the run. It didn't work out that way.

"It is so hard to run by yourself but I felt good out there. [Fernandes] caught me on the second lap. I tried to stay with her for a kilometre."

It proved a double celebration for New Zealand, with Dunedin's Samuels finishing fourth in her best performance in a World Cup.