By Bob Holmes

Athletes from Columbia International University and Ben Lippen School will soon be sharing a new eight-lane multicolored Mondotrack, a leading innovation in track and field surfacing. The new surface will make Ben Lippen the only SCISA school with a Mondotrack, and CIU among the few South Carolina colleges with one.

Mondotrack supplies track surfaces for the Olympics and is known world-wide for enhanced performance and decreasing the chance of injury. Mondotracks are also unique for their durability and multicolored lanes and runways.

With the Ben Lippen high school student body on hand, a ceremonial groundbreaking was held March 16 at Ben Lippen’s Hathaway-Weeber football stadium where the track will circle the football field.

CIU Track & Field Coach Jud Brooker says recruiting for CIU track and field has increased since he began leading the Mondo project.

“Mondo is the fastest track surface in the world and the only surface that the Olympics use,” Brooker said following the ceremony. “We’re excited to get the best surface on our campus for the next 15 to 20 years.”  

Ben Lippen Track and Field Coach Thomas Fisher was also full of enthusiasm.  

“We never thought we’d have a state-of-the-art Mondo surface here at Ben Lippen, so this is an incredible day,” Fisher said. “I’m fired up to say the least.”

Among those turning over the earth with a ceremonial shovel was CIU President Dr. Mark Smith who called it an exciting day for Ben Lippen and CIU.

“We get to offer high-quality track surfaces to our students and our track and field program is already growing by having this announcement,” Smith said.

Construction of the Mondotrack is expected to be complete in early August and ready for CIU and Ben Lippen to host track meets in spring 2019.

See a video of the groundbreaking ceremony on YouTube. 

What’s your sport? CIU athletics continues to grow with softball and volleyball coming soon. Check out the CIU Rams website.

Join the excitement. CIU is experiencing growth in enrollment and has announced $25 million in expansion plans for the campus. CIU is accredited by SACS-COC. 

Get more information on enrolling in Ben Lippen School at www.benlippen.com, or call (803) 807-4000.