HONOLULU, May 9, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The climate is sunny and warm, and the surface is world class. That's one way to describe the Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which will be run Tuesday through Friday on a Mondo Super X Performance track at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.
More than 500 men and women are slated to compete on the eight-lane, 400-meter track, manufactured by Mondo, the global leader in the sports flooring market. The track was installed in 2002 and remained a central feature of the university's stadium following an extensive expansion in early 2009.
Recognized around the world as one of the fastest, most durable and environmentally safest tracks available, the Super X 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.
Having a high-performance Mondo surface has enabled the University of Hawaii to host several major track and field competitions. This year marks the second time it will host the WAC championship. "When we hosted the WAC championships in 2006, we broke a lot of records on the Mondo track," said Carmyn James, the university's track and field head coach. "Because of the track's makeup, we get top times during competitions."
James also noted that the track is an ideal practice surface. "The Super X track is really good for training, and we are able to use it year-round. It's very durable, and it dries very quickly after it rains."
A number of other groups use the track for recreation and training, and club and Olympic-level athletes regularly train on the track during the winter months because of Hawaii's warm climate.
The Super X Performance track has been installed at more than 1,100 venues globally and 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.
About the University of Hawaii at Manoa
Founded in 1907, the University of Hawaii at Manoa is the flagship campus of the University of Hawaii system. Students and faculty come from across the nation to take advantage of the school's research opportunities, diverse community and nationally ranked Division I athletics program. There are more than 20,000 students and the athletics program boasts approximately 450 student-athletes on 20 men's, women's and coed teams.
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 www.mondoworldwide.com.
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Mondo is a registered trademark of Mondo.