| 1981 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | |
| Host City: | Sacramento, California, United States |
| Dates: | June 20–21 |
| Stadium: | Hughes Stadium Sacramento City College |
| Previous: | 1980 |
| Next: | 1982 |
The 1981 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships took place between June 20–21 at Hughes Stadium on the campus of Sacramento City College in Sacramento, California. The 20K racewalk was held May 3 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The decathlon was held at the University of California, Santa Barbara on June 27-8. The meet was organized by The Athletics Congress.
In addition to being the National Championship, it was the selection meet to international teams including the 1981 IAAF World Cup.
This meet was headlined by Carl Lewis, who would dominate the headlines in the sport for the next decade and a half.
| 100 meters | 10.13 | 10.21 | 10.21 | ||||
| 200 meters | 20.36 | 20.38 | 20.53 | ||||
| 400 meters | 44.70 CR | 45.01 | 45.15 | ||||
| 800 meters | 1.45.53 | 1.45.60 1.45.82 | 1.46.03 | ||||
| 1500 meters | 3.35.02 CR 3.35.51 | 3.36.94 | 3.37.24 | ||||
| 5000 meters | 13.28.86 CR | 13.31.64 | 13.33.54 | ||||
| 10000 meters | 28.39.33 | 28.45.59 | 28.49.85 29.04.5 | ||||
| 20 KM Race Walk (May 6 Kenosha, WI) | 1.30.47 | 1.32.20 | 1.34.25 | ||||
| Marathon (42.195 km.) | 2.29.14.0 | 2.39.57.5 | 2.41.23.8 | ||||
| 110 meters hurdles | 13.39 | 13.66 | 13.66 | ||||
| 400 meters hurdles | 47.59 | 48.10 | 48.53 | ||||
| 3000 meters steeplechase | 8.30.7 | 8.31.5 8.31.9 8.32.5 | 8.34.3 |
| High Jump | |||||||
| Pole Vault | |||||||
| Long Jump | CR | ||||||
| Triple Jump | AR, CR | ||||||
| Shot Put | |||||||
| Discus Throw | |||||||
| Hammer Throw | |||||||
| Javelin Throw | |||||||
| Decathlon | 8005 | 7972 | 7787 |
| 100 meters | 11.07 | 11.27 | 11.28 | ||||
| 200 meters | 22.30 | 23.09 | 23.14 23.17 | ||||
| 400 meters | 51.79 | 52.53 | 52.87 53.37 | ||||
| 800 meters | 1.58.50 | 2.00.08 | 2.01.02 | ||||
| 1500 meters | 4.14.62 | 4.15.34 | 4.15.84 | ||||
| 3000 meters | 9.04.54 | 9.07.57 | 9.19.50 | ||||
| 10000 meters | 33.37.5 | 34.10.2 34.30.6 | 34.34.8 34.39.3 | ||||
| Marathon Ottawa, Canada | 2.36.45.9 | 2.37.25 | 2.38.25.9 | ||||
| 100 meters hurdles | 13.09 | 13.10 | 13.18 | ||||
| 400 meters hurdles | 56.43 | 57.14 | 57.82 |
| High Jump | |||||||
| Long Jump | w | ||||||
| Shot Put | |||||||
| Discus Throw | |||||||
| Javelin Throw | |||||||
| Heptathlon | 6011w | 5827w | 5704w |