UMass Lowell track and field member Omar Abdi found himself on unfamiliar ground Friday in Sopot, Poland, running at the IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Abdi represented his home country Somalia at the event. He showcased a competitive spirit and improved attitude in the competition but was unable to qualify for the 1,500 meter final.
“It’s really exciting, it’s a very humbling experience,” Abdi said to goriverhawks.com before he headed overseas. “I’m very thrilled to have been selected to represent (Somalia).”

Abdi spent the first 12 years of his life in Somalia before coming to the United States. He went to high school in Charlestown, where he first started running competitively. Now, he’s representing those roots through sports.

“If I’m out there for three or four minutes running,” said Abdi to gorriverhawks.com. “Maybe the whole country will stop and watch me race, and maybe there will be no wars… because of sports.”

Somalia has been a country torn by upheaval, including a civil war that they are still recovering from. For Abdi though, the chance to run and represent his roots was a source of inspiration and motivation.

In only his second international competition, Abdi hung with the leaders for almost the whole race and actually led at the 800 mark.

Abdi dropped off in the last 400 meters but still finished with an indoor personal-best three minutes and 56.52 seconds. It fell short of what was required to move on to the finals, but Gary Gardner, the UMass Lowell track and field coach, was very proud and supportive of Abdi.

“I was very pleased,” Gardner said to goriverhawks.com. “He looked like a completely different athlete, from what he saw at the outdoor championships. He mixed it up with experienced international competitors, he was right there. This was great for a young athlete.”