BEND, Ore., Oct. 7, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With their existing track in need of replacement, administrators at Summit High School here saw an opportunity to provide a world-class facility for their students and other members of the community. As a result, the school now has a completely renovated outdoor track featuring Mondotrack, the same track surface that was used at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Summit High School is one of the first high schools in the nation - and the first in Oregon - with Mondotrack.
In addition to a nine-lane track, Summit High installed Mondo surfaces for long and high jumps, pole vault and javelin. Installation, which took place on the site of the school's previous track, was completed early this month.
Dave Turnbull, Summit High's track coach, said the school selected Mondo based on the company's reputation for producing tracks that enable athletes to perform at their highest level. More than 230 world records have been set on Mondo tracks, including five at the 2008 Olympic Games.
"We wanted to put down the best surface we could, and that was Mondo," Turnbull said. "We have a strong tradition of serving youth in our community, and Mondotrack will allow us to bring high-quality track programs to our school."
One high-profile event already added to the calendar is the Brooks Oregon Elite which is scheduled for May 30, 2009. Summit High will welcome Oregon high school champions and others who have met pre-determined qualifying times, from 1A to 6A classifications, for one of the largest high school meets in the state. "It will be the pinnacle of Oregon high school track and field," Turnbull said. "The meet will further advance excellence among Oregon athletes."
The Mondotrack has even drawn interest from NCAA Division I athletic programs. Summit High will host a collegiate competition on April 11, 2009, that will bring together athletes from Oregon State University, Portland State University and University of Portland, and possibly other universities. "This will be a great opportunity for the central Oregon community to enjoy track and field at a higher level," Turnbull said.
Summit High is part of central Oregon's Bend-LaPine School District, which also invites various community groups to utilize its facilities for training and sporting events. Turnbull said the new track would provide an additional resource for those users as well.
According to Turnbull, district officials are so impressed with Mondo that they have specified it for future track installations. "Bend-LaPine is not only putting Mondo into Summit High School, but has adopted Mondo as the new track standard district-wide," he said.
Mondotrack builds upon the success of Mondo's world-renowned Super X Performance track, which has been the world's top track for more than 30 years and was the track of the eight Olympic Games prior to Beijing in 2008. The new 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. Mondotrack also provides excellent athletic comfort and maximum safety.
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 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.
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Mondo is a registered trademark of Mondo