Brent Newdick consolidated his 16th position in the Olympic decathlon with a solid 4.70m in the eighth event - the pole vault.
The 27-year-old Kiwi had the 10th-best height in the vault, achieving his clearance on the second attempt and failing to negotiate 4.80m.
He lay 16th overnight after five events yesterday, but lost ground in the opening event of the second day, when he hit seven barriers in the 110m hurdles and finished more than half a second off his personal best with 15.02s.
Newdick regained his poise with a 46.15m throw for eighth in the discus, regaining the four spots he had lost, and further solidified that standing in the vault.
He managed the eighth-best throw in the discus with a
first-round effort of 46.15m to pick up 791 points.
He has 6561points after with two events - javelin and 1500m -
remaining 820 points behind first-placed American Ashton
Eaton.
Eaton's lead over compatriot Trey Hardee was less than 100 points
after a mediocre 42.53m discus, but he rallied with 5.20m
vault to extend the margin beyond 200 points. He's slipped off the
pace he set for his world record at the US trials in
June.