For two years, the Washington Huskies’ track and field teams have finished the season in the bottom half of the Pac-10.

Last season, the Husky track and field team finished ninth in the Pac-10 championships for both the men and the women.

This year, the goal for both the men’s and women’s teams is to finish in the top five, said head track coach Greg Metcalf.

Based on the Huskies’ roster, it could be possible.

“The women’s team is light-years better than [they] were a year ago,” Metcalf said. “We have some big-time firepower on the men’s side.”

Sprinter Jordan Boase, favored to win both the 200-meter and the 400-meter dashes he plans on running, bolsters the Husky men with his senior leadership.

“Most of the reason why I wanted to come out and run the 200 and the 400 was because it was my senior year, and it’s my last Pac-10,” Boase said. “It’s my last chance.”

Boase is confident in his abilities to win both of his sprint events.

“A lot of it comes down to being healthy, getting out of the prelims and everything,” Boase said. “I shouldn’t have to run too hard in the prelims to make the finals. I definitely feel like I’m in good enough shape where I can win both of them.”

Last year, Boase faced stiff competition in the 400 against Pac-10 foes.

“Last year was one of the best 400s in Pac-10 history,” Boase said. “There’s [still] a few pretty good guys in the 400, but it’s definitely not the same as last year.”

Boase will also be running in the men’s 4x100-meter relay, though the Huskies’ aren’t favored to win despite being defending conference champions.

In the distances, the Husky men will have Austin Abbott running in the 800 meters and the 1,500 meters.

“Austin Abbott could score in the 800 and the 1,500 meters,” Metcalf said. “It’s a tough double, but he could do both.”

For the women, the Huskies’ deep roster in the mid-to-long distances figures to have the best chance of scoring in the Pac-10 championships.

Redshirt freshman Mel Lawrence will make her second run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, but this time against top competition, including Washington State’s Sara Trane.

“It’ll be a great race; going into the Pac-10 meet, there are no guarantees,” Metcalf said of Lawrence’s chances in the steeplechase. “She’s going to be hard to beat.”

The Huskies also hope to qualify some athletes for the NCAA west regional championships in the Pac-10s because it is their last scheduled meet before regionals.

Reach reporter Honsen Lin at sports@dailyuw.com.