New WA track a boon for athletes
The WA Athletics Stadium's new track is being hailed as a godsend as the State's top athletes prepare for a tilt at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this year.
The new blue track, developed by world-class athletics supplier Mondo, was unveiled by Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron today ahead of the 2&5 Classic later this month.
It is already a massive improvement on the previous red track, which held up poorly in Perth's fierce summer conditions, and Waldron said he expected this version to last much longer.
"Mondo was the surface of choice for the London 2012 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, providing the best surface for our environment and a world class training facility for all our WA track athletes," he said.
"The top layer is rubber, the bottom layer consists of a honeycomb-shaped construction unique to Mondo.
"This track surface is chosen with a commitment to sustainability because it includes up to 42 per cent recycled materials and six per cent of renewable materials."
The new track cost $692,000 to construct.
WA pole vaulting champions Liz and Vicky Parnov and rising star Henri Brown were on hand to test out the new installation, giving it rave reviews.
"It's pretty good, it's really fresh, bouncy," Liz Parnov said.
"The old red one was quite worn out and almost felt like you were running on concrete."
The 2&5 Track Classic will begin at the stadium on February 22.
