After a 16-year absence from the historic Penn Relays, the Washington Huskies forced their way back into the minds of East Coast track and field gurus by placing second and third in their two relays.

The success of the Huskies was so surprising that the video announcers on Flotrack.org mistook the UW for the University at Albany during the men’s sprint medley relay.

Apparently, the announcers weren’t the only ones to make that mistake.

“We were getting made fun of quite a bit by the crowd. I don’t think they know who Washington is,” sprinter Jordan Boase said on Flotrack.org. “Being in it in the end was kind of fun because I don’t think anyone expected it. No one knows where we’re from.”

The Huskies’ sprint medley team of seniors Joe Turner, Kenjamine Jackson, Boase and Austin Abbott — running in that order — placed second in the event, though the Huskies had a chance to win it in the end.

Boase torched his 400-meter leg to give Abbott — the anchor — the lead. Abbott kept the lead for most of his 800-meter leg but was passed by eventual winner Tennessee during the final lap. UW finished with a time of 3:18.81 to Tennessee’s 3:17.77.

In the other relay, the UW women’s 4x1,500-meter relay continued the theme of defeat to the Volunteers, placing third behind Tennessee and Georgetown.

Second-leg Katie Follett was satisfied with the Huskies’ performance, though.

“People saw [our depth] during the cross-country season, and so it was fun bringing the girls out to the track so people can see that,” Follett said. “All of us felt good about our times on our legs.”

The Washington team of Kailey Campbell, Follett, Mel Lawrence and Christine Babcock — running in that order — broke Michigan’s 2007 national record in the event along with Tennessee and Georgetown. The Dawgs finished with a time of 17:14.55.

The rest of the UW track and field team competed in the Oregon Relays, where several Huskies picked up regional qualifiers and personal records, as well as winning two events.

Reach reporter Honsen Lin at sports@dailyuw.com.