DES MOINES, Iowa, June 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Drake University is ready to welcome hundreds of the nation's best collegiate athletes to Drake Stadium for the 2012 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The competitors vying for national titles during the June 6-9 meet will have a world-class surface underfoot—the Mondo Super X Performance track.

This marks the fourth time in five years that these prestigious championships will have taken place on Mondo surfaces. In addition to this year's competition, Drake University hosted the championships in 2008 and 2011; the 2009 meet was at the University of Arkansas, where the track and field stadium also features a Super X Performance track.

Made by Mondo, the global leader in the sport flooring market, the Super X Performance track is recognized around the world as one of the fastest, most durable and environmentally safest tracks available. Drake Stadium's eight-lane, 48-inch Mondo track was installed in 2006 as part of a $15 million renovation. Since then, the university has been selected to host a number of prestigious track and field championships, including the 2010 and 2013 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Known for their superior performance, Mondo tracks have been used for numerous NCAA meets and other high-profile track competitions this year, including:

• NCAA Division I East Regional, May 24-26,University of North Florida (Mondotrack)
• Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championships, May 10-13, Louisiana State University (Mondotrack)
• Big East Conference Championships, May 4-6, University of South Florida (Mondotrack)
• Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships, May 3-5, North Carolina A&T State University (Super X Performance track)
• Drake Relays, April 26-28, Drake University (Super X Performance track)
• John McDonnell Invitational, April 20-21, University of Arkansas (Super X Performance track)
• Vanderbilt Invitational, April 20-21, Vanderbilt University (Super X Performance track)
• Sun Angel Classic, April 6-7, Arizona State University (Mondotrack)
• Florida Relays, April 6-7, University of Florida (Mondotrack)

"Mondo's tracks are used at so many prestigious competitions because we are committed to developing the fastest tracks in the world," said Federico Stroppiana, CEO, Mondo Group. "That's why world records are routinely set on Mondo tracks—more than 230 overall, including five at the 2008 Olympics. Our extensive research and development ensures surfaces that let athletes perform their best."

About Mondo's Tracks

Mondo's Super X Performance track has been installed at more than 1,100 venues globally and was an official track of eight Olympic Games through 2004. Renowned for its shock absorption and optimal energy return, the high-performance rubber surface provides consistent performance throughout its life and minimizes the occurrence of injuries during both training and high-level competition.

Mondotrack, the official track of the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, provides the optimum blend of speed, safety and comfort for high-speed competition and training. 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.

About Mondo

Mondo is the global leader in the track and field, indoor sport and contract flooring markets, manufacturing rubber flooring surfaces for virtually every application. More than 1,100 Mondo tracks and 800 Mondo artificial turf fields are installed worldwide. An official supplier of athletic tracks 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 rubber flooring and manufactures 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. For news updates, the latest on Mondo products and events, and the company's latest sport flooring installations, visit mondoworldwide.com and like Mondo America's Facebook page and Mondotrack's Facebook page.

Mondo and Mondotrack are registered trademarks of Mondo.

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