19 Apr 2012

Hewitt says automatic qualification critical to Games buildup

12:55 pm on 19 April 2012

World triathlon number two Andrea Hewitt says gaining automatic qualification for the London Olympics in August has been an enormous benefit to her build up to the Games.

Hewitt, Kate McIIroy, double Olympic medallist Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemmell have today been named in the New Zealand team for London.

Hewitt and Gemmell were the only two triathletes to meet the automatic qualification standard, Gemmell doing so at the weekend when he finished inside the top eight at a world series race in Sydney.

Two other triathletes Ryan Sissons and Nicky Samuels will join the quartet, subject to New Zealand remaining in the top eight ranked nations come the end of May, which will give them a third Olympic berth in both the men's and women's events.

Hewitt says achieving the qualifying standard last year means she's been able to concentrate on peaking for the Games mid-year and says she was surprised to by her third placing in Sydney at the weekend.