| Athletics at the VIII South Pacific Games | |
| Size: | 200px |
| Colour: | yellow |
| Host City: | Nouméa, New Caledonia  |
| Dates: | December 9–18 |
| Stadium: | Stade Numa-Daly Magenta |
| Nations Participating: | 11 |
| Events: | 38 (22 men, 16 women) |
| Records Set: | 25 |
| Level: | Senior |
| Previous: | 1983 Apia |
| Next: | 1991 Port Moresby |
| Games: | 1987 South Pacific Games |
Athletics competitions at the 1987 South Pacific Games were held at the Stade Numa-Daly Magenta in Nouméa, New Caledonia, between December 9–18, 1987.
A total of 38 events were contested, 22 by men and 16 by women.
Medal winners and their results were published on the Athletics Weekly webpagecourtesy of Tony Isaacs and Børre Lilloe, and on the Oceania Athletics Association webpage by Bob Snow.
Complete results can also be found on the Oceania Athletics Association webpage by Bob Snow.
| 100 metres (wind: -2.6 m/s) | 10.98 | 11.21 | 11.22 | ||||
| 200 metres (wind: -0.8 m/s) | 22.10 | 22.20 | 22.25 | ||||
| 400 metres | 49.14 | 49.50 | 49.74 | ||||
| 800 metres | 1:55.73 | 1:56.17 | 1:56.21 | ||||
| 1500 metres | 3:50.27 GR |  / | 4:00.11 | 4:01.62 | |||
| 5000 metres | 14:15.12 GR | / | 15:20.21 | 15:23.36 | |||
| 10000 metres | 30:59.99 GR | 32:28.63 | 33:14.16 | ||||
| Marathon | 2:26:58 GR | 2:32:56 | 2:41.06 | ||||
| 3000 metres steeplechase | 9:07.11 GR | 9:32.16 | / | 9:38.49 | |||
| 110 metres hurdles (wind: -1.2 m/s) | / | 14.76 | 14.80 | / | 15.04 | ||
| 400 metres hurdles | / | 52.37 GR | 53.03 | / | 53.06 | ||
| High Jump | 2.02 | / | 1.98 | 1.96 | |||
| Pole Vault | / | 4.60 GR | 4.55 | / | 4.35 | ||
| Long Jump | 7.39 GR (wind: +1.3 m/s) | 7.27 w (wind: +2.1 m/s) | 6.99 w (wind: +2.2 m/s) | ||||
| Triple Jump | 15.73 GR (wind: +2.0 m/s) | 15.53 w (wind: +2.9 m/s) | / | 14.49 w (wind: +2.4 m/s) | |||
| Shot Put | 15.97 | 15.36 | 14.75 | ||||
| Discus Throw | / | 51.30 GR | 47.20 | 44.72 | |||
| Hammer Throw | 57.90 GR | 55.52 | 49.88 | ||||
| Javelin Throw (new specification) | 78.96 GR |  / | 77.36 | 75.00 | |||
| Decathlon† | 7019 | / | 6319 w | 5722 | |||
| 4 x 100 metres relay | 41.07 GR | 41.64 | 41.71 | ||||
| 4 x 400 metres relay | 3:17.46 | 3:18.99 | 3:21.13 |
| 100 metres (wind: -1.2 m/s) | 12.62 | / | 12.63 | 12.81 | |||
| 200 metres (wind: -0.3 m/s) | 24.62 GR | / | 25.41 | 25.69 | |||
| 400 metres | 56.32 GR | 59.41 | 59.64 | ||||
| 800 metres | 2:15.58 GR | 2:17.33 | / | 2:18.51 | |||
| 1500 metres | 4:35.94 GR | 4:45.71 | 4:50.94 | ||||
| 3000 metres | 10:03.46 GR | 10:34.44 | / | 10:35.67 | |||
| 100 metres hurdles (wind: -0.7 m/s) | / | 14.37 GR | 14.47 | 15.15 | |||
| 400 metres hurdles | 60.96 GR | 61.90 | / | 63.09 | |||
| High Jump | / | 1.65 | 1.63 | 1.63 | |||
| Long Jump | 5.92 (wind: +1.2 m/s) | / | 5.77 w (wind: +2.4 m/s) | 5.63 w (wind: +2.5 m/s) | |||
| Shot Put | 14.00 GR | 13.75 | 13.67 | ||||
| Discus Throw | 46.42 | / | 45.22 | 43.28 | |||
| Javelin Throw | 52.26 | 50.04 | / | 49.16 | |||
| Heptathlon | 4822 GR | / | 4817 | 4772 | |||
| 4 x 100 metres relay | 47.32 GR | 47.64 | 48.52 | ||||
| 4 x 400 metres relay | 3:52.58 GR | 3:59.53 | 3:59.54 |
Athletes from the following 11 countries were reported to participate:
