Atheltics: Newdick has sights on 8000 decathlon points

The magical score of 8000 points in the decathlon is not too far away for promising New Zealand athlete Brent Newdick.

The 24-year-old set a personal best point score of 7915, finishing 23rd overall out of 34 at the world championship in Berlin.

This added 41 points to his previous best set in Belgrade in July in winning the silver medal at the World University Games.

Newdick said that he was on a high from the excitement but down from the drained energy of it.

"It feels pretty good to finish though, I did an overall PB, two individual PBs and a couple of equal PBs, my first World Champs.

"I've learnt a million things and I'm just excited for the future really, loved the experience, it's awesome to be part of it really." .

He said doing a PB was one of his minimum goals.

"Eight thousand points has been talked about, I mean I'm going to get it sooner or later.

"Every time I compete I'm getting closer and closer, so unfortunately it didn't quite happen here."

Newdick explained that he had only one throw in the javelin as he had nerve cramp in his arm and he didn't want to risk any further damage.

"In all my throws, I'm just weak at the moment, compared to everyone else, I'm young and weak and skinny, I'm just sort of hanging in there," he said.

Newdick said a medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year was the minimum target.

Trey Hardee of US won with 8790 points, from Leonel Suarez of Cuba 8640 and Aleksandr Pogorelov of Russia 8528.