The UW track team will send a strong group of runners, jumpers and throwers to Eugene, Ore., this weekend for the Oregon Relays.

“It’s about our team competing, improving marks and fine-tuning some things, taking steps forward to doing better,” UW track coach Greg Metcalf said.

One of the Washington athletes traveling to Eugene is junior pole vaulter Jared O’Connor.

“Jared’s been knocking on the door of doing something great the last couple of weekends,” Metcalf said.

O’Connor, who qualified for the regional championships at the Sun Angel Classic at Arizona State, recently recovered from a fractured shoulder he suffered during a motorcycle accident.

“He’s come back and he’s really competed well for us,” assistant Jimmy Bean said. “He’s going to be a 17[-foot pole vaulter] very soon.”

The Huskies plan to debut the men’s relay teams in the 4-by-100 meter and the 4-by-400 meter for the first time this outdoor season. UW sprinter Jordan Boase and long jumper Norris Frederick are slated to run in the 4-by-100.

Washington’s third-fastest all-time 10,000-meter runner, Jake Schmitt, is set to make his season debut in the 5,000-meter this weekend. Schmitt stands a good chance of placing third on UW’s all-time list in this event as well, Bean said.

“That’s pretty good for a guy who’s running his first outdoor season as a Husky,” Bean said.