University of North Carolina Asheville Renovates Karl Straus Track & Field Facility

The newly renovated Karl Straus Track & Field (the “Track”) at the University of North Carolina Asheville is now a premier Olympic-level track facility featuring a new 8–lane Super X 720 track by Mondo. “In the world of tracks, you know Mondo,” said Janet R. Cone, Director of Athletics, UNC Asheville. “It’s a premier track surface that is used by many universities and the Olympic Games, so choosing Mondo for our new outdoor track was a no-brainer. It met all the qualifications we were looking for in a track. It’s high quality and extremely durable, so it will last a long time, and it’s low maintenance, so it will be easy to care for. And it gives us something we can be proud of. Our athletes have already said they can tell it will be a fast track. A collaboration between Buncombe County and UNC Asheville, the renovation will allow UNC Asheville to host home meets, which it hadn’t been able to do in many years, including intercollegiate meets, regional conference meets, and many youth and amateur track meets. In addition, it gives the community a recreational space for walkers, joggers, special needs athletes, and runners. “Customer service was key to the success of this project,” said Cone. “Working with Mondo and GeoSurfaces was a true partnership. They made us feel like we were their most important customer. They also were very responsive, getting back to me quickly when I sent a text. And there wasn’t a time when they weren’t available to answer questions or attend meetings. Whatever I needed, they made it work, and they were always there for me.”