DES MOINES, Iowa, June 20, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Two important upcoming track meets are going to be contested on Mondo surfaces: the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and the IAAF World Championships.
The USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which start today and run through June 23, are taking place at Drake Stadium, which is on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Drake Stadium features a Mondo 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. The stadium's eight-lane, 48-inch Super X Performance track was installed in 2006 as part of a $15 million renovation. The university also has hosted the 2010 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and the 2008, 2011, and 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
This championship competition will serve as the selection event for the coveted spots to represent Team USA at the IAAF World Championships Aug. 10-18 in Moscow, Russia, at Luzhniki Stadium. This stadium, which played host to the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final and has been selected as the stage for the FIFA World Cup Final in 2018, installed an 8-lane, 48-inch Mondotrack surface in 2012. Mondotrack also was the official track surface of the 2012 London and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
"The world's best track and field athletes—and the sport's biggest stages—deserve a superior track surface," said Federico Stroppiana, CEO, Mondo Group. "Mondo's tracks are used at so many prestigious competitions because we are committed to developing the fastest tracks in the world that let athletes perform their best. At the 2012 London Olympic Games alone, three world records, four Olympic records, 64 national records, and a multitude of personal and season bests were set on Mondo's track."
About Mondo's Tracks
The world's top track for more than 30 years, the renowned Super X Performance track is installed at more than 1,100 venues globally and was the track of eight Olympic Games through 2004. Mondo's Super X Performance track was designed to provide 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. Ideal for both training and high-performance competition, the track is renowned for its shock absorption and optimal energy return, and its ideal blend of speed and comfort minimizes the occurrence of injuries.
Mondotrack, Mondo's newest track surface, builds on the success of the company's Super X Performance track. Designed for superior athletic performance, Mondotrack provides 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.
More than 230 world records have been set on tracks made by Mondo, including five at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and three at the 2012 London Olympics.
About Mondo
Mondo is the global leader in the track and field, indoor sport and contract flooring markets, manufacturing flooring surfaces for virtually every application. More than 1,100 Mondo tracks and millions of square feet of the company's high-performance athletic surfaces are installed worldwide.
An official supplier of athletic tracks for the past 10 Olympic Games, Mondo also is the official supplier or official sponsor of more than 100 sports federations and associations.
A family-owned business since its founding in 1948, the company sells its products in more than 196 countries through Mondo-owned manufacturing companies in Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and China. For news updates, the latest on Mondo products, events and flooring installations, visit mondoworldwide.com and like Mondotrack's Facebook page and Mondo America's Facebook page.
Mondo and Mondotrack are registered trademarks of Mondo.