CHARLESTON, IL, May 29 -- As debuts go, Mooseheart's Oumaru Abdulahi acquitted himself unbelievably well at the IHSA boys track and field meet.

The Ramblers freshman set the school record in high jump by clearing 6-7 – by clearing that height, he secured third place in the Class 1A competition on Saturday at O'Brien Stadium.

“It feels great, finishing third and also making the school record,” Abdulahi said. “I planned for third and tried to get third, so I'm glad that I accomplished it.”

Abdulahi became Mooseheart's first high jump medalist and finished higher than any Ramblers track athlete since Frank Ballinger won the second of his back-to-back one-mile titles in 1958. Since class competition began in boys track, Mooseheart has had four placewinners: Raj Garcia was fifth in the 100 meters in 2000, Pierre Nealon was sixth in the triple jump in 20004 and Mike Tovar was eighth in the long jump in 2008. Nealon, now an assistant coach at St. Rita, was on-hand at O'Brien Stadium to watch Abdulahi jump on Saturday.

Abdulahi did not skip the opening heights and easily cleared 6-0, 6-2 and 6-4 on his first attempts. After passing at 6-5, he missed his first two jumps at 6-6.

“I was just thinking 'third place' really,” Abdulahi said. “I told myself 'you've got this.'”

Abdulahi cleared 6-6 on his third attempt, then soared over 6-7 on his first try to establish the school record.

“I knew he had it in him,” Mooseheart boys track coach Curt Schlinkmann said. “He went out and he did it.”

Abdulahi missed his three attempts at 6-8 and went out of the competition.

Abdulahi was one of two Northeastern Athletic Conference athletes on the podium. Rockford Christian Life's Jordan Peyton finished second and the seasonal comaraderie between the two was apparent during competition.

“I was doing well and (Peyton) was doing well,” Abdulahi said. “When he does well, I try to do well too. He jumped really well today.”

Herrin star Zack Riley won the event. Riley and Peyton both cleared 6-8 but won by having fewer misses in the competition. Riley won the long jump in between his high jumping and went to anchor the 400-meter relay to victory before receiving his high jump award.

“Yeah, he's really good,” Abdulahi said of Riley.

Abdulahi was the only freshman in the finals. In fact, 11 of the 13 athletes in finals were seniors. The experience at O'Brien Stadium took a bit of adjusting for Abdulahi.

“It's different,” Abdulahi said.

The format with three classes of track competition meant Abdulahi competed in preliminaries on Thursday then had to wait on Friday while the Class 2A and Class 3A prelims took place. Abdulahi spent some time with fellow Ramblers state qualifier Akeem Edmonds, who competed in the 400-meter prelims but did not advance.

“That was a relaxed day,” Abdulahi said. “We went to the movies. But at the end of the day, I came down here to run some sprints and stretch with some of the guys from other teams.”

With his successful initial foray into state track finished, Abdulahi set his sights on 2011.

“I'm going to try to get back here next year and do well,” Abdulahi said.

Abdulahi admits he's also taken a look at the all-time Illinois record, currently held by Heyworth's Tom Smith, who cleared 7-3-(one-half) in 1985.

“I'd like to have the record before I graduate,” Abdulahi said. “I'd like to set that goal.”