This article contains an overview of the year 1987 in athletics.
International Events
World records
Men
Carl Lewis (USA) equalled the world record in the men's 100 metres held by countryman Calvin Smith since 1983-07-03, clocking 9.93 seconds on 1987-08-30 at the World Championships in Rome, Italy.
Women
Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) equalled the world record in the women's long jump held by East Germany's Heike Drechsler since 1986-06-21, jumping 7.45 metres on 1987-08-13 at a meet in Indianapolis.
Men's Best Year Performers
Main race this year: World Championships 100 metres
Main race this year: World Championships 200 metres
Main race this year: World Championships 400 metres
Main race this year: World Championships 800 metres
Main race this year: World Championships 1.500 metres
Main race this year: World Championships 5.000 metres
Main race this year: World Championships 10.000 metres
Main race this year: World Championships Marathon
Main race this year: World Championships 110m hurdles
Main race this year: World Championships 400m hurdles
Main race this year: World Championships 3.000m steeplechase
Main competition this year: World Championships High Jump
Main competition this year: World Championships Long Jump
Main competition this year: World Championships Triple Jump
Main competition this year: World Championships Discus Throw
Main competition this year: World Championships Shot Put
Main competition this year: World Championships Javelin Throw
Main competition this year: World Championships Pole Vault
Main competition this year: World Championships Decathlon
Women's Best Year Performers
Births
- January 1 — Rytis Sakalauskas, Lithuanian sprinter
- January 17 — Svetlana Radzivil, Uzbekistani high jumper
- January 27 — Liliya Kulyk, Ukrainian triple jumper
- March 5 — Vitalij Kozlov, Lithuanian middle-distance runner
- April 17 — Atsede Baysa, Ethiopian long-distance runner
- April 20 — Elijah Kipterege, Kenyan long-distance runner
- April 24 — Franklin Nazareno, Ecuadorian sprinter
- July 14 — Margus Hunt, Estonian discus thrower
- July 22 — Hugo Chila, Ecuadorian long jumper and triple jumper
- August 9 — Marek Niit, Estonian sprinter
- September 1 — Leonel Suárez, Cuban decathlete
- September 13 — Vincent Kipruto, Kenyan long-distance runner
- October 3 — AncuÃÂa Bobocel, Romanian long-distance runner
- November 1 — Jimmy Adar, Ugandan middle-distance runner
- November 17 — Nadiya Dusanova, Uzbekistani high jumper
- December 1 — Tabarie Henry, United States Virgin Islands sprinter
- December 21 — Denis Alekseyev, Russian sprinter
Deaths
- March 17 â Georg Lammers (81), German athlete (b. 1905)
- October 20 â Jerzy Chromik (56), Polish long-distance runner (b. 1931)
References