NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Balance Track and Field Center at New York's 168th Street Armory Youth Center is the busiest track venue in the world, with more than 500,000 usages per year. And for more than 15 years, the facility's track surface of choice has been Mondo.
So when it was time to choose a replacement track for the Armory's latest renovation, the venue didn't think twice about selecting another Mondo track. In November, the Armory completed installation of its new Mondo Super X Performance track, the world's top track for more than 30 years and the track of the eight Olympic Games prior to Beijing.
"We feel so strongly about Mondo that when we needed to replace the track, we didn't even put it out for competitive bid," said Norbert Sander, who founded the new facility and led the Armory's restoration initiative. "As far as performance, we wanted the best surface we could find and the Olympic usage of Mondo is an endorsement you can't miss. This track gives high school and college athletes the opportunity to run their personal bests."
On any given day, as many as 2,000 athletes train and compete on the track, and the Armory hosts meets seven days a week. In addition to the track itself, the Mondo Super X surface covers the infield, a separate jogging track, floor surfaces outside of the track perimeter and the entire expanse of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, which is on the facility's third floor. The Armory, a loyal Mondo customer for more than 15 years, originally selected Mondo for its ability to stand up to the venue's high traffic, and Mondo has lived up to the challenge. "Sixteen years after opening the facility, we are still very successful with the track," Sander said.
Because of the track's heavy use, the Armory needed installation to be efficient and problem-free. "We didn't have room for error, and with Mondo's support, the work was done right and on time," Sander said. "Mondo has been a pleasure to work with over the years. They have a fantastic reputation because their people are courteous and honest, and they deliver on their promises."
The Armory opened in 1909 to house the 22nd Regiment, and through much of its history, it hosted track meets, starting with the 1914 Xavier Games. After serving as a homeless shelter for several years, the facility was closed to sports in 1985, before being renovated and reopened in 1993 to provide after school athletic and educational programs for neighborhood children. Today, the New Balance Track and Field Center is host to more than 120 national and international track and field events yearly. In 2001, Alan Webb became the first high school athlete to break the 4 minute mark in the mile when he ran 3:59.86 on the Armory's Mondo track.
Mondo's 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. The 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.
Mondo is a registered trademark of Mondo.
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