Hewitt, whose fiance and coach Laurent Vidal (31) died in his sleep of a suspected heart attack last November, finished second in the senior women's 5000m.
New Zealand's top-ranked women's triathlete does not usually run on the track, but decided to enter the 5000m to improve her fitness and pacing.
After winning silver in 16min 4.94sec, Hewitt could not help getting emotional when attempting to talk about life since Vidal died.
‘‘Yeah, there have just been so many changes. It was just so sudden,'' she said, before, understandably, emotion got the better of her and she was unable to finish her sentence.
Vidal was a former French professional triathlete but was forced to give up competing in 2014 after he suffered a heart attack.
He went on to coach Hewitt and the pair were supposed to marry this year.
The Kiwi triathlete, who qualified for Rio last year, took turn about leading the 5000m race with winner Camille Buscomb. Hewitt (33) last led at the 2600m mark in 8min 20.56sec before Buscomb hit the front for good.
But she had to work for the win, as Hewitt crossed the finish line just 1.19sec back.
‘‘I did not have any idea how the race would go,'' Hewitt said.
‘‘It worked out well, I think.
‘‘This weekend is the first race of the world triathlon series. I didn't think it was a good idea to travel as far as Abu Dhabi in Olympic year. I wanted to do a race and this fitted in well.''
Hewitt has been training at Snow Farm in Wanaka the past few weeks and will return to Christchurch today.
