FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., April 21, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The University of Arkansas is the site of the John McDonnell Invitational, named for the legendary Razorback coach who retired in 2008, which will take place April 22 and 23, at John McDonnell Field. Collegiate track and field athletes from six schools will compete in 10 events while reaping the benefits of performing on a world-class surface: a Mondo Super X Performance track.
Manufactured by Mondo, the global leader in the sports flooring market, the nine-lane, 400-meter Mondo track at John McDonnell Field was installed in mid-2006. Today, the facility is one of only four in the U.S., and the first one on a college campus, to receive the prestigious IAAF Class I certification.
"We continue to be impressed with the Mondo surface at the University of Arkansas," said Chris Bucknam, Arkansas track and field head coach. "Having Mondo as our track provides our university a chance to bid on meets at every level of competition, and our student-athletes love to train on it every day. It is an incredibly fast surface."
Bucknam also said the Mondo track has been extremely durable. "After five years of nearly daily use, the Mondo surface is in great shape," he said.
Mondo Super X Performance has been installed at more than 1,100 venues globally. Recognized around the world as one of the fastest, most durable and environmentally safest tracks available, it was used in the eight Olympic Games prior to Beijing. (Mondo's newest track surface, Mondotrack, was the official track of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and will be the track of the 2012 London Olympics.)
Super X Performance was developed to maintain its initial physical properties throughout its life, so it provides consistent performance. 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. This 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 during both training and high-level competition.
About the University of Arkansas
Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is the state's largest and most distinguished institution of higher learning, with more than 21,000 students. The school has a rich tradition of track and field success and is the outdoor home to the most successful program in NCAA history. Since 1985, the men's track and field team has won 10 NCAA outdoor titles and has had 48 NCAA individual event champions.
About Mondo
Mondo is the global leader in the sports and contract flooring markets, manufacturing flooring surfaces for virtually every application. 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 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 flooring, and it 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 .
The Mondo logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5765
Mondo is a registered trademark of Mondo.
CONTACT: Editorial Contact: Glynis Gibson Gibson Communications, Inc. 773.278.7700 glynis.gibson@gibsoncommunications.com
