Track and Field (Athletics) at the Commonwealth Games
Athletics is one of the two compulsory Commonwealth Games sports (the other is swimming). It is also one of three sports that has been on every Games program (the others are boxing and swimming).
110m hurdles at Glasgow 2014Track and Field events can generally be divided into three categories – running, jumping and throwing. There is also a combined multiple event for men (decathlon) and women (heptathlon), and para-events.
Para-athletics events are included in the Commonwealth Games athletics program. They were first included as demonstration events in 1994 (men's wheelchair 800m and marathon), and since 2002 events for athletes with a disability have been an official part of the program.
New Event for 2026
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will see the return of the Commonwealth Mile, a tribute to Roger Bannister and John Landy’s duel over the distance at the 1954 Games in Vancouver. A mile race event was last run in 1966. It will replace the 1500m run.
Trivia
- Australia's Decima Norman’s winning performances in Athletics at the 1938 Games - 1st in all events in which she competed, winning 5 Gold medals (100 yards, 220 yards, Broad Jump, 440 yards Medley Relay; 660 yards Medley Relay.
- Englishman Jack Holden won the 1950 marathon in Auckland, despite being bitten by a dog.
- 1954 Games in Vancouver was host to the ‘Miracle Mile’, with both the gold medalist, Roger Bannister of England, and silver medalist, John Landy of Australia, run sub-four minute races.
- New Zealander Yvette Williams became a Games legend when she won gold in the discus, shot put and long jump at the 1954 Vancouver games.
- Australian Raelene Boyle won the sprints double (100m and 200m) in 1970 and 1974. She was the last to win the female sprints double, a feat that had occurred at each of the nine Games since 1934. No female has won the double since.
- Winner of the 2010 Women's Pole Vault competition was Australian Alana Boyd, who became the only child of two Games champions to win her own gold medal. Her father Ray also won the Pole Vault, in 1982, and her mother Denise won the 200m in 1978.
- Race walking events for men at the 2022 Commonwealth Games were reduced to a 10km event. From 1998-2018 it was 20km, and from 1978-1994 it was 30km (there was also a 50km walk from 1998-2006).
- Scottish distance runner Eilish McColgan won the 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000m, replicating the feat of her mother Liz McColgan who won the same race in 1986 and 1990. In doing so, Eilish broke her mother's Commonwealth Games record for the event.
- A mile race has been added to the program for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, replacing the 1500m.
Related Pages
- About the sport of athletics
- Athletics at the Olympic Games.
- List of Commonwealth Games sports
- Demonstration sports at the Commonwealth Games
- Para-sports at the Commonwealth Games
- Athletics at the Olympic Games
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