DURHAM, N.H., Jan. 23, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The University of New Hampshire's Paul Sweet Oval indoor track is a long way from Beijing's National Stadium, host of the 2008 Olympic track and field competition. But following the recent renovation of the UNH venue, the two buildings have something in common: Both feature a Mondotrack running surface, the state-of-the-art track from Mondo.
As part of the renovation, UNH also installed a Mondo Super X Performance infield, which includes sections designed for high jump and pole vault. The Mondotrack is a custom-made, four-lane, 160-meter track with additional lanes on the straightaways. Both replaced surfaces that had deteriorated after decades of use.
According to Steve Metcalf, UNH's senior associate athletic director for internal operations, the university selected Mondo in part because of the positive experiences its student-athletes and coaches have had on Mondo tracks at other venues. "The energy return from Mondo's design is unique and it makes sense to choose a surface that helps prevent injuries and can make the athletes faster," he said. "Mondo is the track of the Olympics and there is a reason Olympic athletes run on Mondo: It performs."
The newly renovated facility will be used for practice and competition by a variety of the university's varsity teams, including football, men's and women's hockey, women's lacrosse, and men's and women's soccer, in addition to the men's and women's track and field squads. "With the new Mondo surfaces, we can take full advantage of the facility," Metcalf said. "Our athletes are really excited."
UNH also hosts New Hampshire Indoor Track League meets, in which top high school track athletes from throughout the state compete. Metcalf said the new facility should allow UNH to bring more meets to the venue.
The official track of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Mondotrack was engineered with the optimum blend of speed and comfort to accommodate both competition and training. Mondotrack helps athletes achieve faster times compared to running on other surfaces because it provides optimal traction and a greater contact area than other tracks, and it converts the maximum amount of force generated by athletes' foot strikes to energy for maximum energy return. It also provides excellent athletic comfort and maximum safety; the track's elongated hexagon backing makes the surface more elastic and responsive, so it's more comfortable than other tracks for training.
The world's top track for more than 30 years and the track of the eight Olympic Games prior to Beijing, Super X Performance was designed 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.
About Mondo
Mondo is the global leader in the sports flooring market, manufacturing floor surfaces for virtually every sport. More than 1,100 Mondo tracks and 800 Mondo artificial turf fields are installed worldwide. The official supplier of the athletic track for the past nine Olympic Games, 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.
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Mondo is a registered trademark of Mondo.