DES MOINES, Iowa, April 24, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- One of the top track and field meets in the world turns 99 today. But an important part of the Drake Relays is much younger. For the third time in its proud history, the track and field festival will be contested on Mondo's Super X Performance track, the same surface that has been used for the track and field competition at the past eight Olympic Games.
"When it came to making a decision about which surface we were going to have installed in Drake Stadium, we considered many things," said Mark Kostek, Drake University's associate athletic director. "Performance, consistency, customer service and company history were a few of the factors that were evaluated. Mondo was clearly the right choice for the home of the Drake Relays, as many records have fallen since installation."
The meet, which takes place today through Saturday at Drake University's Drake Stadium, will feature 111 events, including 20 invitationals, with competition for collegiate, high school, elementary and middle school, and masters athletes. Several meet records are expected to be tested, with Olympians, world-class performers and national record-holders entered. Meet organizers expect a particularly strong field in the women's 800-meter run.
Mondo, a global leader in the sports flooring market and the official supplier to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing for athletic tracks, designed Super X Performance to maintain its initial physical properties, so it provides consistent performance throughout its life. The vulcanized natural rubber surface provides maximum elasticity and unparalleled durability, and its embossed, textured finish makes it extremely easy to maintain with no resurfacing required. This high-performance track is renowned for its shock absorption and optimal energy return, and its ideal blend of speed and comfort minimizes the occurrence of injuries.
The world's top track for more than 30 years, Mondo Super X Performance has been installed at more than 1,100 venues globally, and it is recognized around the world as the fastest, most durable and environmentally safest track available.
"Many athletes have achieved faster times when running on Mondo tracks versus other surfaces," said Federico Stroppiana, president of Mondo North and South America. "Nearly 230 world records and countless national and personal bests have been set on Mondo tracks."
One of the most popular track and field venues in the U.S., Drake Stadium will host the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June. Last year, it was the home of the NCAA Midwest Regional Track and Field Championships. In addition to the Drake Relays, the venue hosts several major annual events each year. The 14,557-seat venue also hosts the Iowa High School Boys and Girls State track championships every May. Among the track and field legends who have competed at the stadium are Bruce Jenner, Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Ralph Metcalfe, Al Oerter, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Frank Shorter, Gwen Torrence and Jeremy Wariner.
About Mondo
Mondo is the global leader in the sports flooring market, manufacturing floor surfaces for virtually every sport. The official supplier of the athletic track and basketball and handball courts of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Mondo also is the official supplier or official sponsor of more than 100 sports federations and associations, including FIBA, IAAF, Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, NIRSA, U.S. Track Coaches Association and YMCA.
The company also supplies a wide variety of commercial flooring and is the world's largest producer of sports and toy balls with an average daily production of 450,000 units. In addition, it manufactures large luxury yachts under its Mondomarine division.
Mondo invests heavily in research and development to ensure its products meet the highest quality standards in the industry, deliver optimal athletic performance, are durable, require minimal maintenance and are environmentally safe.
A family-owned business since its founding in 1948, Mondo's global headquarters are in Italy. The company has manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia and sells its products in more than 196 countries. More information about Mondo is available at www.mondousa.com.
Mondo is a registered trademark of Mondo.
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