Damian Warner sets Canadian record, earns silver in decathlon

Canada's Damian Warner won silver in the decathlon at the world track and field championship in Beijing, breaking his national record with an overall score of 8,695.

American Ashton Eaton stole the show, however, setting a new world record, scoring 9,045 points and eclipsing his old mark.

• RESULTS: World track and field championships
• Canada earns bronze after U.S. disqualified in 4x100m relay
• Melissa Bishop makes Canadian history in women's 800m
• BROADCAST SCHEDULE: Track & field worlds on CBC, CBCSports.ca

Eaton, who is married to Canadian heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton, secured his second world title, running 4 minutes, 17.52 seconds in the 1,500 metres.

It was the first world record at the 2015 championships at the Bird's Nest, the venue of the 2008 Olympics.

The Olympic and world champion had 8,216 points after nine events, a lead of 256 over second-place Warner of London, Ont., and needed to go under 4:18.25 in his last event to surpass the world mark of 9,039 he set in Oregon in June 2012. His personal best in the 1,500 in a decathlon is 4:14.48.

Eaton, who hadn't competed in a full decathlon in two years, started with a championship record in the 100 when he recorded 10.23 in his opening event. He added a decathlon world record in the 400 — running 45 seconds flat in his last event Friday.

Warner needed to go faster than 4:36.9 to break his national record and was well under that mark with a run of 4:31.51. Despite his personal best and national record, Warner was disappointed not to get past the 8,700 mark.

"It's kind of beating me up right now," said Warner, who won bronze at the 2013 worlds in Moscow. "But I'm happy with how I finished."

Warner said he let himself down in the 400m at the end of the first day of decathlon competition. "I know what shape I'm in and I know I'm capable of running fast times, but I wasn't able to do it yesterday."

It's rare for decathletes to do two decathlons in the span of one month, but Warner opted for the challenge. He won gold in Toronto at the end of July, and believed he could recover in time for a strong performance at worlds.

But he admitted that it took its toll.

"I didn't quite feel as sharp as I did at the Pan Am Games. I didn't have that little extra boost. But I don't regret anything."