SELINSGROVE, Pa., July 21, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Susquehanna University officials use the word "quality" in describing many aspects of campus life: the school's academic programs, athletic programs and student activities among them. So it comes as no surprise that the university has chosen Mondotrack, the official track of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics, as its new running surface.
An eight-lane, 400-meter Mondotrack is scheduled to be installed by September at 3,500-seat Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium. The new surface will replace a base-mat spray track that had come to the end of its useful life and is being recycled.
When university officials evaluated possible replacement tracks, Mondo emerged on top for its performance benefits and the reputation of the manufacturer. "Quality is important to us in everything we do," said Pam Samuelson, Susquehanna University's athletic director. "When we chose Mondo, we took into account not only the quality of the product, but the quality of service Mondo is known for."
As part of their review, Susquehanna officials spoke with coaches at other schools with Mondo tracks. "They wholeheartedly recommended Mondo because they were great to work with and offer an outstanding product," Samuelson said.
Mondotrack provides excellent athletic comfort and maximum safety with the optimum blend of speed and comfort to accommodate both high-level competition and training venues. Samuelson expects that Mondo's performance benefits will help student-athletes achieve faster times and give them a competitive advantage.
The Mondotrack also could help Susquehanna's track and field program in other ways. For one, the cutting-edge track will be a factor in recruiting. "We expect it will make a difference in attracting athletes in the future," Samuelson said. In addition, the school hosts a yearly invitational meet, and with the new Mondotrack on the way, officials are planning on adding another home meet to its schedule.
Mondotrack, Mondo's newest track, was designed to provide 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 Mondo tracks, including five at the 2008 Olympics.
About Susquehanna University
Located about 50 miles from Harrisburg, Pa., Susquehanna University is a national liberal arts college that enrolls more than 2,000 students from 30 states, the District of Columbia and 12 countries. The university's 23 intercollegiate teams compete at the NCAA Division III level, and the school is a member of the Landmark Conference.
About Mondo
Mondo is the global leader in the sports flooring market, manufacturing floor surfaces for virtually every sport. Throughout its 60-year history, the company has invested heavily in research and development to produce cutting-edge products that meet the highest quality standards, deliver optimal athletic performance, are durable, require minimal maintenance and are environmentally safe.
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 Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, FIBA, IAAF, National Soccer Coaches Association of America, NIRSA, U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country 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.
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.
Mondo is a registered trademark of Mondo.
The Mondo logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5765