20 Nov 2011

Gemmell and Docherty win Auckland, Hewitt takes women's race

7:23 pm on 20 November 2011

It's been a good day for New Zealand triathletes at the year-ending Auckland World Cup, with wins in both the men's and women's races.

Palmerston North's Kris Gemmell cleared out on the run to take out the men's race by just over a minute ahead of compatriot Bevan Docherty for a Kiwi one-two.

The victory could open a third spot at the London Olympics for New Zealand and it was an emotional triumph with Gemmell dedicating his first ITU win this season to a cousin, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour just a few months ago and has been given three years to live.

Gemmell is going to donate his prizemoney to cancer research and his sponsors are going to do the same.

The moustachioed Gemmell is also raising money for men's health through Movember.

Canterbury's Andrea Hewitt won the women's triathlon, blitzing the Auckland field for a comprehensive 57-second victory ahead of Japan's Tomoko Sakimoto.

The world number two was near the front off the swim then Hewitt took the lead on the bike and ran away with it on the 10-kilometre run, for her third World Cup triumph of an outstanding season.