NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 22, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today and tomorrow, nearly 500 men and women track and field athletes will converge at Vanderbilt University's outdoor track and field complex for the Vanderbilt Invitational. As they compete in 20 events and strive to place in their respective categories, all will discover the benefits of racing on the facility's Mondo Super X Performance track.
The eight-lane, 400-meter Super X Performance track was installed in late 2003 as part of a $1.7 million facility renovation. Manufactured by Mondo, the global leader in the sports flooring market, the track provides athletes with a state-of-the-art surface for training and competition.
Clark Humphreys, women's track and field assistant coach, said, "The Mondo Super X Performance surface is tremendously fast. Training on it is extremely beneficial, because if you want to run fast in competition, you have to train fast in practice. With Mondo, the athletes are able to do that."
Humphreys said he is looking forward to the Vanderbilt Invitational because it gives the university an opportunity to showcase its facility and track. "Our athletes have traditionally run their fastest times here at our home meets. Last year, a couple of different Division I teams got most of their qualifiers for Nationals on our Mondo surface."
Mondo Super X Performance has been installed at more than 1,100 venues globally. Recognized around the world as one of the fastest, most durable and environmentally safest tracks available, it was used in the eight Olympic Games prior to Beijing. (Mondo's newest track surface, Mondotrack, was the official track of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and will be the track of the 2012 London Olympics.)
Super X Performance was developed to maintain its initial physical properties throughout its life, so it provides consistent performance. 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 during both training and high-level competition.
About Vanderbilt University
Founded in 1873, Vanderbilt University is a private institution that enrolls more than 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students. In 2003, Vanderbilt radically restructured its athletics program, which resulted in improved student athlete academic achievement and a jump in the university's athletic performance, with seven teams being ranked in the top 25 nationally in 2006-2007. The university is consistently ranked as one of the nation's top 20 universities by publications such as U.S. News & World Report, with several programs and disciplines ranking in the top 10.
About Mondo
Mondo is the global leader in the sports and contract flooring markets, manufacturing flooring surfaces for virtually every application. 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 and the upcoming 2012 London Olympics, Mondo also is the official supplier or official sponsor of more than 100 sports federations and associations.
The company supplies a wide variety of commercial flooring, and it 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.
A family-owned business since its founding in 1948, Mondo sells its products in more than 196 countries. The company's global headquarters are in Italy, and it has manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. More information about Mondo is available at www.mondoworldwide.com.
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Mondo is a registered trademark of Mondo.