19 Jun 2010

Newdick cracks 8000 in decathlon

7:36 am on 19 June 2010

The New Zealand decathlete Brent Newdick is shaping up well for a medal at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games after passing passed 8000 points for the first time at a meet at Kladno in the Czech Republic.

Personal bests on the second day in the 110 metres hurdles, the javelin and the 1500 metres spurred the 25-year-old Aucklander to a total of 8091 and sixth.

Newdick consolidated his number three position on the New Zealand all-time list by adding 156 points to his previous best of 7935 achieved in Austria last month.

Simon Poelman holds the New Zealand record with 8366 points achieved in Christchurch in 1987 and Douglas Pirini scored 8115 in 1996.