Life lessons from the track
From everyday obstacles to Olympic heights
In 2012, Athletic Performance Ranch (AP Ranch) launched in Fort Worth, Texas, as a dynamic youth track club for athletes aged 9 to 18. More than just a sports program, AP Ranch uses athletics to instil life skills like work ethic, humility, and resilience. With a mission to bridge the gap for schools with limited resources, the club provides top-notch facilities and opportunities for all. While some athletes have soared to Olympic heights and professional careers, the real victory is in helping kids overcome obstacles and excel as teammates.
“Some of the kids have gone on to compete at the Olympic level and have professional careers, but the ones we’re really excited about are the kids that learn how to overcome obstacles and be teammates.”
Rekortan Gel. It’s not a hard choice.
Some of the Ranch's success is fuelled by the their Rekortan G13 track, the only Gel track in the market. The Gel layer delivers a unique combination of energy return and force reduction which has helped record-breaking runs from stars like Allyson Felix and Sha’Carri Richardson. The Gel track not only enhances performance but also reduces injuries, making it a game-changer for AP Ranch’s athletes.
“The Gel surface has been amazing at keeping our athletes healthy and also giving them probably one of the most, one of the fastest surfaces in the world to train on.” Greg Sholars, Founder AP Ranch
“It's much better than other surfaces that we run on internationally.“ Jaheel Hyde, Double Olympian, Jamaica
REKORTAN G13 GEL TRACK
Learn more about AP Ranch and what Greg Sholars and Olympic athletes have to say about the Rekortan G13 Gel Track.
“The new gel surface has been amazing at keeping athletes healthy and giving them the fastest surfaces to train on.”
Interview with Greg Sholars
AP RANCH FOUNDER
From Penn Relays records to a founding coach at AP Ranch, meet Greg Sholars, the man realizing the potential of track and field as a force for good.
The race is measured in seconds. The value in decades.
Hear more from Greg on the importance of the role of coaches and the value of the track as a teacher for life.
Interview with Tim Jordan
Vice President and General Manager of Sport Group in the Americas
Tim Jordan shares why Rekortan has teamed up with AP Ranch, how the partnership aligns with our values and the impact our track is having on the athletes that train there.
Rekortan Gel Series – G13 & G10
The world’s greenest tracks
Rekortan, with 25% of all World Athletics certified tracks, is the global market leader. Gel tracks developed with amazing science, are our most advanced environmental and performance technology.
Rekortan Gel tracks reduce stress on the environment and the athlete:
Gel layer has up to 84% renewable (plant-based oils) and recyclable content
Made with a proprietary enzyme process, this greatly reduces electricity and final waste is environmentally-friendly ceramic pellets
Retains +95% of force reduction over 10 years, re-top the track for an extended life
The Gel, as a liquid inside a solid matrix, delivers more stable force reduction over a wider temperature range, which enhances the athlete experience
The force reduction in sync with 58% energy return, gives the athlete more ‘ping’ which supports speed, reduced fatigue and injury reduction
World Athletics Certified
Rekortan G13, the only Gel track available, is World Athletics certified. Class 1 tracks are installed in Christchurch, New Zealand and the SA Athletics Stadium, Adelaide, Australia. Rekortan Gel tracks can be found throughout the USA, and recent Gel track projects in Europe include Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Portsmouth, England.
Not all tracks are the same
For most full pour tracks the base layer ratio is 60% polyurethane and 40% rubber. The Rekortan Gel layer is enhanced to 80% and 20%. This guarantees a strong and long-lasting base layer:
Natural oils reduce fossil fuel use
Reduced energy during production reduces CO2
Longer lasting force reduction maximizes track life & investment
More stable force reduction improves athlete performance
2 layers system is quicker to install
Retains +95% of force reduction over 10 years
Rekortan Gel helps the sport run on
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The Gel is made with a proprietary mix of plant-based oils, including castor oil, linseed oil and soya bean oil. We convert these plant-based oils to PU with a proprietary process that uses enzyme technology.
• The conversion process is natural, it doesn’t require additional energy.
• The process is fast, efficient, and natural.
• Superb durability and long-life performance.
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The Gel is firm and fast, when force is applied the Gel dissipates the energy. This gives the force reduction needed for training and social running, and the speed required for competition.
Importantly the gel layer is more temperature stable than standard polyurethanes. This allows it to offer consistent force reduction across a wide range of temperatures – from 10 degrees Celsius in the winter to 35+ degree Celsius in the summer. This is a genuine performance advantage and supports better athlete welfare. Athletes don’t like tracks that go hard or soft as the temperature changes.
• Force reduction of 95%-97% is retained over 10 years, which is the best force reduction technology on the market.
• This maximizes the investment, protects the athletes and track longevity is better for the environment.
• With re-topping the life of the track can be further extended, giving decades of high performance.
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One is better than two.
Gel is the only two-layer full PUR track. And because the Gel is a single layer, it can be installed 50% quicker than a two-layer polyurethane system.
Other full PUR track systems require 2 layers of polyurethane to get to required 9mm.
The Gel is unique, it has the perfect level of viscosity that allows it to say in place while being installed flat to a 9mm thickness. Traditional polyurethanes are too runny for this so must be done in two thinner layers.
For most full pour tracks the base layer ratio is 60% polyurethane and 40% rubber. The Rekortan Gel layer is enhanced to 80% and 20%. This guarantees a strong and long-lasting base layer
The benefits to the installation are:
• Allows work with smaller weather windows
• Less wet weather contingency days in the construction planning
• Less susceptible to any form of moisture damage during installation
• Is machine mixed rather than hand mixed which is more accurate and gives greater consistency
• Single layer prevents potential contamination between the layers from dust and other debris
In a sport where time is everything.
Rekortan Gel. 100% perfect now. 95% perfect in 2043.
Rekortan Gel Series - available globally
Rekortan is Sport Group’s global track brand, and Rekortan Gel Series is available from Sport Group companies around the world - AstroTurf in the USA and the Americas, Polytan in Asia Pacific and Polytan in EMEA (from 2024).
Rekortan is the original tracks surface, trusted for over 50 years & chosen by athletes, schools, clubs and major venues worldwide:
Olympic Games -
World Championships -
African Championships -
Asian Games -
Commonwealth Games -
European Championships -
Diamond League -
SEA Games -
Penn Relays -
NCAA Championships -
Goodwill Games -
Pan Am Games -
Olympic Games - World Championships - African Championships - Asian Games - Commonwealth Games - European Championships - Diamond League - SEA Games - Penn Relays - NCAA Championships - Goodwill Games - Pan Am Games -
From Amsterdam to Auckland, from London to Los Angeles, Polytan and AstroTurf can help with every aspect of your track project, including design, installation, and maintenance.
Together these brands have been installing tracks for over 50 years and have the biggest installation network in the world. Our teams install tracks for elite events, major stadiums, communities, clubs and schools around the world. We can help bring your track project to life.