The Alabama Crimson Tide men's track and field team is making program history leading into this week's SEC Championship meet.

The Crimson Tide is ranked No. 2 in the nation in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Men's Track & Field Rating Index.

It's the third week in a row the Tide has finished No. 2 in the nation as head coach Dan Waters' program trails top ranked Texas by less than 10 power index points.

Alabama, obviously, leads the SEC but the rest of the league is hot on Bama's heels. Florida, LSU, Georgia and Texas A&M all immediately trail the Tide, giving the SEC five of the nation's top six teams. Three other SEC teams are ranked as well with Tennessee is No. 12, Kentucky No. 15 and Arkansas No. 18.

The conference championship meet will be held this weekend in Oxford, Mississippi, beginning on Thursday.

Alabama Track and Field's 2022 Individual Highlights

  • Eliud Kipsang's collegiate record in the men’s 1,500 meters (3:33.74) is ranked No. 1, while his 800-meter effort (1:47.16) has him sitting 10th.
  • Tarsis Orogot is fourth in the men’s 200 meters after posting a career-best 20.15 to close the regular season.
  • Mercy Chelangat is ranked third in the women’s 5,000 meters after posting a 15:17.28 earlier this season.
  • Isaac Odugbesan shattered a 42-year-old school record in the men's shot put with a toss of 20.66 meters, which ranks him third nationally.
  • Kieran McKeag went 71.53 meters in the men's hammer at the Crimson Tide Invitational to rank fourth nationally.
  • The men's 4x100-meter relay of Jekovan Rhetta, Tarsis Orogot, Mason Phillips and Demetrius Jackson laid down a blistering 38.86 which ranks eighth nationally.
  • Victor Kiprop is eighth (13:24.48) in the 5,000 meters and 10th in the men’s 10,000 meters (28:15.72).
  • Bobby Colantonio Jr.'s 70.39 meters at the Crimson Tide Invitational ranks him 10th nationally in the men's hammer.

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