Jan. 13, 2009

New indoor courts added

PELLA—Installation of a new Mondo SX surface in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse is completed.

The surface is the same as what was used for track events at last year’s Olympics in Beijing. It also provides for a high-quality surface for four tennis courts. The multi-purpose facility is used by several other Central athletics squads as well and for student recreation.

Joel Druvenga (senior, Spencer) is a member of the Dutch men’s tennis squad and is eager to try out the new indoor courts.

“This surface puts us near the top of the conference in the facilities that we offer,” Druvenga said. “It will create a more natural speed for tennis, as the courts we used to play on were very fast. The new technology will also be helpful for preventing injuries. The old surface was starting to get tough on our legs later in the season.”

First-year men’s and women’s track and field coach Joe Dunham is thrilled.

“There is a very small group of campuses in the country that have a facility like we now have,” Dunham said. “It’s the best track surface you can buy.”

The track’s value as a practice facility is its best feature, Dunham said.

“This helps with injury prevention as well as with the opportunity for our athletes to improve,” he said. “We’re excited about the possibility of hosting more meets but just the ability to consistently train at a high level is great. We can be on it a lot more than we could the old surface.

“It says a lot about Central’s track and field program as well as our athletic program and the direction we’re going here.”

The new track mirrors Central’s outdoor facilities. A new embedded-texture 400-meter track was installed at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium in 2007.

Likewise, a new playing surface was installed for Central’s six outdoor tennis courts last summer.

The Dutch track and field squads will make their debut on the new track in an exhibition meet with alumni athletes Jan. 23. The men’s tennis squad plays its home season opener Feb. 21 in a triangular meet with Simpson College and Graceland Univ.