GREENSBORO, N.C., June 19, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- When high school track and field athletes compete in the 18th annual Nike Outdoor National Championships at North Carolina A&T State University beginning June 19, thousands of spectators, more than 100 college coaches and one Olympic legend will be on hand to see them perform on a world-class track: Mondo Super X Performance.
The Super X Performance track at Irwin Belk Track at Aggie Stadium features eight 48-inch lanes. It was installed in 2004 as part of a comprehensive $1.5 million renovation.
University officials expected the renovation to significantly raise the track's reputation and enable the 24,000-seat venue to host national-level competitions. Since then, Aggie Stadium has hosted the annual Nike Outdoor Nationals and other premier track events. It is the only historically black college or university to have hosted an NCAA Track and Field regional competition.
"The renovations to Irwin Belk Track have solidified us as major East Coast player," said Brian Holloway, North Carolina A&T media relations director. "The Mondo track also has helped us land major events -- the MEAC championships, NCAA regionals, NCHSAA state championships and Nike Championships -- and has been a drawing card for top-notch recruits. The track's performance speaks for itself. In the four years since it was installed, we have seen an increase in the number of athletes qualifying for regional competitions."
Organizers of the two-day meet announced recently that Carl Lewis will attend the competition to present the sprint and long jump medals. Lewis, winner of nine Olympic gold medals and 10 overall, also will sign autographs Saturday afternoon in the Nike tent.
The world's top track for more than 30 years, Mondo Super X Performance has been installed at more than 1,100 venues globally. Recognized globally as the fastest, most durable and environmentally safest track available, it has been used in the past eight Olympic Games, and Mondo is the official supplier to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing for athletic tracks.
"Because of our tracks' superior design, Olympic, professional, collegiate and high-school athletes around the world can be confident they will perform their best when they're running on Mondo," said Federico Stroppiana, president of Mondo North and South America. "Many athletes have achieved faster times when running on Mondo tracks versus other surfaces, and nearly 230 world records and countless national and personal bests have been set on Mondo tracks."
Super X Performance was developed 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. The official supplier of the athletic track and basketball and handball courts of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, 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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