CONWAY, Ark., Aug. 7, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Another NCAA Division I university has selected Mondo for its new track. The University of Central Arkansas is installing Mondotrack, Mondo's newest track and the official track surface of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, in its new track and soccer complex.
Scheduled to open this fall, the complex will feature a 400-meter Mondotrack with eight 42-inch lanes surrounding a natural grass soccer field. The surfaces for shot put, javelin, discus and hammer throw, as well as lanes for long, high and triple jumps and pole vault, also will be Mondotrack.
The new track and soccer complex is part of the university's program to upgrade its facilities to complement its move from NCAA Division II to Division I in 2006. The same year, UCA reinstated its track program after a 14-year hiatus. The track will be a welcome change for the UCA track and field teams, which had been training and competing at the local high school.
"We evaluated several companies before deciding to go with Mondo," said Brad Teague, director of athletics, University of Central Arkansas. "As a Division I school, we wanted our athletes to have the best surface available for training and competition, and Mondotrack was the obvious choice-it's the fastest and most durable track in the world."
This isn't the university's first Mondo installation. The campus' Student Recreation Center also has Mondo Sport Impact and Sportflex surfaces. The university fields 15 NCAA varsity teams and is a member of the Southland Conference. It is the alma mater of former NBA star Scottie Pippen.
"Providing its athletes with the best track in the world is a great way for the University of Central Arkansas to stay competitive at the Division I level," said Federico Stroppiana, president of Mondo North and South America. "As more college coaches and athletes are finding out, Mondo is a great track for training and competition because it helps athletes stay healthy and perform at their best."
Recognized around the world as the fastest, most durable and environmentally safest tracks available, Mondo tracks, including the company's world-renowned Super X Performance track, are installed at more than 1,100 venues globally. 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.
Building upon the success of Mondo's Super X Performance track, which has been the world's top track for more than 30 years and the track of the past eight Olympic Games, Mondotrack was designed to provide optimal traction and a greater contact area than other tracks. It converts the maximum amount of force generated by athletes' foot strikes to energy for maximum energy return, which helps athletes achieve faster times compared to running on other surfaces. Mondotrack also provides excellent athletic comfort and maximum safety.
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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