Erica Hawley made a fine return to competitive action when finishing ninth in the World Triathlon Cup Napier.

Hawley, who was 41st at the Olympic Games in Paris, crossed the line in New Zealand in 57min 27sec, a little more than a minute behind the winner, Desiree Ridenour, from Canada, who stopped the clock at 56:25.

That winning time was just two seconds faster than Australian Emma Jeffcoat, who finished runner-up, with local favourite Ainsley Thorpe third in 56:34.

Hawley, who is ranked just inside the world’s top 100, entered the race rated the 14th best triathlete in the field but she outperformed those expectation after competing the 750km swim in 10:31, the 20km cycle ride in 28:43 and the 5km run in 17:12.