SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Feb. 12, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the recent completion of a new, multimillion-dollar complex housing athletics, recreation, athletic training and exercise science facilities, Springfield College has elevated its visibility in athletics and given its student-athletes a competitive edge. Among the complex's most exciting features are the Mondotrack surfaces in the Field House and Mondo training surfaces throughout the other two buildings.
The Field House boasts a six-lane, 200-meter Mondotrack with separate areas for pole vault; long, high and triple jumps; Mondo surfaces on the infield and outfield; and Mondo flooring in the weight room. Springfield College also installed Mondo surfaces in the Wellness Center and athletic training/exercise science complex's fitness and training rooms. As a result, almost all of the college's student-athletes will be able to train, condition or compete on Mondo surfaces.
Choosing Mondo was an easy decision for the NCAA Division III school's athletic department. "Mondo has been around for 60 years and its stability was a big factor during this volatile time in the industry," said Cathie Schweitzer, Springfield College's director of athletics. "With other companies folding, we wanted to go with a company that has proven itself. Mondo is internationally known and we wanted the best. That was Mondo."
Schweitzer said working with Mondo during the installation confirmed that the college had chosen the right company. "We've developed a relationship with Mondo not just because of its products, but because its representatives responded tremendously throughout every phase of the process."
She added that the college's selection committee members also were sold on Mondo's performance benefits -- in particular, Mondotrack's safety, durability and speed.
Those benefits paid dividends for Springfield athletes shortly after the facilities opened. During the first-ever indoor track meet in the school's 123-year history, Springfield junior Nikki Hay qualified for the NCAA Championships in three events: the 55-meter dash, long jump and triple jump. Junior Steve Headley also qualified in the 55-meter dash. "We've already seen faster times and are expecting a healthier team with a reduction in injuries," Schweitzer said.
Mondotrack was the track surface for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The surface builds upon the success of Mondo's world-renowned Super X Performance track, which has been the world's top track for more than 30 years and was the track of the previous 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 with the optimum blend of speed and comfort to accommodate both high competition and training venues. More than 230 world records have been set on Mondo tracks, including five at the 2008 Olympics.
About Springfield College
Springfield College, a private, four-year college founded in 1885, has an undergraduate and graduate student population of more than 5,000. It is ranked in the 2009 edition of "America's Best Colleges" in the top tier of "Best Universities -- Master's -- North Region" by U.S. News & World Report. Springfield College's competitive Division III athletic program includes 26 varsity sports for men and women. The college is consistently ranked in the top 10 percent of Division III; many teams have competed in NCAA tournaments, been nationally and regionally ranked, and achieved conference champion recognition.
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 and Mondotrack are registered trademarks of Mondo