NEW YORK, May 30, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Athletes participating in the May 31 Reebok Grand Prix have competed on tracks all over the world. But the Olympic medalists and world champions at Icahn Stadium will be running on a surface that's second to none: Mondo Super X Performance.
Icahn Stadium is one of only four national and 64 international track and field venues to receive the prestigious IAAF Class I certification. The $42 million facility was built in 2005 with public and private funding, and is located on Randall's Island, a 480-acre park anchoring Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens. After a sell-out crowd at last year's Reebok Grand Prix, event organizers added 1,500 seats for the 2008 competition.
"As the only facility in the Northeast to meet IAAF specifications for local, national and international track and field events, including Olympic training and trials, we wanted to make sure that Icahn Stadium provides our athletes and kids who participate in the RIK Jesse Owens Track & Field club with the best surface and the chance to perform to the best of their ability," said Louis Vazquez, Randall's Island Sports Field track and field director. "Times posted at the Reebok Grand Prix have been as fast as those at any facility around the globe. I believe Icahn Stadium has one of the fastest tracks in the world."
Many view the Reebok Grand Prix as a prelude to the track and field competition at the upcoming Beijing Summer Olympics. Competitors include Liu Xiang of China, Lauryn Williams of the U.S. and Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica. Liu, the reigning Olympic 110-meter hurdles gold medalist and current world No. 1, returns to Icahn Stadium to defend his title. His winning time last year was 12.92 seconds, the fastest in the world in 2007 and tied for the fourth-fastest in history.
Campbell-Brown returns to New York as the 100-meter world champion. She won last year's Grand Prix event in 10.93 seconds. She'll face a strong field including Williams, the 2005 world champion at 100 meters and a 2004 Olympic silver medalist. Campbell-Brown edged Williams in a virtual tie at the 2007 World Championships.
"The Reebok Grand Prix attracts some of the best track and field athletes in the world, and the Mondo Super X Performance track helps ensure that they will perform their best," said Federico Stroppiana, president of Mondo North and South America.
The world's top track for more than 30 years, Mondo Super X Performance has been installed at more than 1,100 venues globally. Recognized around the world as the fastest, most durable and environmentally safest track available, it has been used in the past eight Olympic Games, and Mondo is the official supplier to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing for athletic tracks. Many athletes have achieved faster times when running on Mondo tracks versus other surfaces; nearly 230 world records and countless national and personal bests have been set on Mondo tracks.
Mondo's Super X Performance track was developed 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. The 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.
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 Mondo Marine 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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