TEMPE, Ariz., May 9, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Once again, a championship track meet is taking place on Mondotrack. The 2008 Pac-10 Track and Field Championships presented by 76 Gasoline, which is being hosted by Arizona State University, begins today with the heptathlon and decathlon; all other events will be contested May 16-17.
ASU installed the new Mondotrack on its track, oval, high jump and pole vault lanes earlier this year, making Joe Selleh Track at Sun Angel Stadium the first U.S. facility with the surface that will be used at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The Pac-10 Championships is the second major meet to be held at the venue since then; the first was last month's Sun Angel Track Classic.
"Six meet records were set on the new Mondotrack at the Sun Angel Track Classic," said Greg Kraft, head coach of ASU's track and field team. "With the new surface and an outstanding field of Pac-10 athletes competing, we wouldn't be surprised to see more records set at this meet."
The Pac-10 Championships will showcase athletes from ASU as well as University of Arizona; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); University of Oregon; Oregon State University; Stanford University; University of Southern California; University of Washington and Washington State University.
This is the fourth time ASU has hosted the Pac-10 Championships. It previously hosted the 1979, 1991 and 1999 meets.
Developed by Mondo, a global leader in the sports flooring market, Mondotrack was designed to provide optimal traction and a greater contact area than other tracks. The highly advanced surface converts the 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.
Mondo tracks are installed at more than 1,100 venues globally. Recognized around the world as the fastest, most durable and environmentally safest tracks available, Mondo tracks have been used in the past eight Olympic Games, and the company is the official supplier of athletic tracks to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Many athletes have achieved faster times when running on Mondo tracks versus other surfaces; nearly 230 world records and countless national and personal bests have been set on Mondo tracks.
Home of the 2008 NCAA men's and women's indoor track and field champions and the 2007 NCAA women's indoor and outdoor track and field champions, Sun Angel Stadium opened for competition in 1976. In all, Sun Angel Stadium has been the home venue for 21 Olympians and seven medalists (five gold, one silver and one bronze), including recent gold medalists Dwight Phillips (2004, long jump) and Nick Hysong (2000, pole vault). It also has been the training home for winners of 30 NCAA championships, including 27 individual titles and three relay crowns.
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.
The Mondo logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3747
Mondo is a registered trademark of Mondo.