Coach Dan Waters arrived in Tuscaloosa with a plan and a problem. Coming from a nationwide title-winning operation at Texas A&M, crafting Alabama’s observe and discipline program right into a constant winner would take a while.

The Crimson Tide males completed tied for 66th in his first NCAA outside observe championships whereas the ladies had been forty fourth.

That was 11 years in the past.

Issues are completely different now.

The Alabama males’s program enters this week’s SEC outside championship meet No. 2 within the nationwide rankings — the very best at school historical past. The rating is predicated on particular person occasions and rankings inside every occasion. Alabama’s 270.26 factors are behind solely Texas’ 279.44.

That follows a 2021 NCAA outside meet when the ladies’s No. 4 end was this system’s greatest since 1987, the second of consecutive seasons it was nationwide runner up.

The Tide ladies are ranked within the nationwide high 25 and is No. 8 within the 14-team SEC, in accordance with the USTFCCCA web site.

Waters on Tuesday was fast to pump the brakes on any discuss of nationwide title rivalry because it enters the SEC meet Might 12-14 at Ole Miss.

“One of many targets, after I got here right here 11 years in the past, was to construct to a whole, rounded program and have individuals in each occasion,” Waters stated. “And that’s kinda what we’re capable of see.”

Alabama has the No. 1 ranked 1,500-meter runner in Eliud Kipsang, the NCAA report holder within the occasion. Different high performers embrace Tarsis Orogot (No. 4 within the 200 meters), Isaac Odugbesan (No. 3 within the shot put), Kieran McKeag (No. 4 within the hammer throw) and Julian Collins (No. 5 within the lengthy leap).

The Tide males have 13 athletes ranked within the high 10 nationally of the 21 occasions in outside meets.

The No. 2 rating isn’t a subject to keep away from throughout the program, McKeag stated.

“I feel it’s a problem but in addition not one thing that we don’t invite going into the meet,” he stated. “For the reason that 12 months received began, Coach Waters stated the lads’s crew has a really particular alternative to do lots of actually nice issues. Sitting second going into the postseason will get us actually excited.”

The Alabama males completed thirteenth within the NCAA meet final 12 months with this system’s greatest season ending No. 3 in 1983.

Within the 2021 SEC meet, the Tide males had been No. 2 and the ladies No. 3.

The No. 2 nationwide rating getting into the convention meet says loads concerning the potential, Waters stated, however it takes much more than that to get the place they wish to go.

“This system has been quietly making an attempt to construct ourselves into nationwide rivalry,” Waters stated. “I feel we’re perhaps knocking on the door at this level. However the factor about observe and discipline is it’s a really fickle sport. Something can occur. There are 21 completely different occasions so loads can transpire in a weekend.”

Alabama’s final SEC outside championship got here in 1980 although it has been within the high 5 in 4 of the previous 5 years.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Comply with him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Fb.