Project Overview:

Completed in August 2008, Macalester’s new state-of-the-art “athletic and wellness complex” qualified the small, NCAA Division III liberal arts college to host regional and national athletic competitions. Exclusive dealer Anderson Ladd installed Robbins flooring for the racquetball courts, dance studios and the 53,000-square-foot fieldhouse, featuring a 200-yard Durathon® Elite Track fused with a spike-proof Pulastic® center. The fieldhouse hosts numerous Macalester Scots athletes, whose sports include track, volleyball, basketball, tennis, baseball and softball — and every player gets the professional-level performance his or her sport demands with the Pulastic SP Track 160 system. “When you try to do multiple sports on one surface, you sometimes run into issues, and we’ve had none of those issues on this surface,” said assistant director of athletics–facilities Rob Osterman. “We’re extremely pleased with the playability and the durability of these surfaces.” Both sports flooring help athletes give more: The Durathon Elite Track pushes athletes faster, while the SP Track 160 provides outstanding resiliency for athlete comfort and injury prevention. “Anderson Ladd has done a great job of working with us, making sure we are 100% satisfied with the product, which we have been,” said Osterman. Can’t say enough about our decision to go with this flooring and Anderson Ladd.”

Proven Safety:

Engineered to integrate superb force reduction to prevent micro-injuries while providing energy restitution for the long haul, Robbins helps athletes thrive where many sports surfaces fail: “You can high jump off it, you can pole vault off it, and [the track and field team is] very hard on surfaces. When you have surfaces that don’t allow spikes, it becomes dangerous because they come in hard, they slip, the injury rates go way up,” observed a Macalester track coach. “But we’ve had no slipping. … The athletes come back and forth on the surface as part of their workout — giving a sense of different surfaces. Overall, the Pulastic and the Durathon have been wonderful for us.”

Proven Performance:

The combination of the Durathon Elite Track’s speed and durability and the superior mechanics of the Pulastic SP Track 160 provides a one-two punch to all the athletes’ performances: “The Durathon track has been extremely helpful to our track team in that it’s a fast surface; they like to use it in practice and for their competitions.” The fusion floor also allows runners to seamlessly segue into other sports without having to stop the action and remove their spikes.

Proven Winners:

Macalester College’s men’s and women’s track and field teams have proven to be consistently fierce competition in state conferences. Year after year, several members of each team have won indoor and outdoor MIAC (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) titles, including MIAC All-Conference Performer and MIAC Champion as well as All-American and National Competitors. 2017 also saw the women’s team set numerous Macalester indoor records. Robbins is committed to helping these competitors reach their — and their college’s — personal best.