The athletics competition at the 1997 European Youth Summer Olympic Days was held from 20 to 23 July. The events took place in Lisbon, Portugal. Boys and girls born 1980 or 1981 or later participated 29 track and field events, divided equally between the sexes with the exception of 3000 metres, 2000 metres steeplechase and pole vault for boys but not girls.
| 100 metres | 10.45 | 10.76 | 10.83 | ||||
| 200 metres (wind: +3.0 m/s) | 21.34 | 21.57 | 21.68 | ||||
| 400 metres | 47.31 | 48.10 | 48.39 | ||||
| 800 metres | 1:54.81 | 1:55.34 | 1:55.36 | ||||
| 1500 metres | 3:54.54 | 3:56.44 | 3:57.88 | ||||
| 3000 metres | 8:20.69 | 8:22.96 | 8:23.18 | ||||
| 110 metres hurdles | 13.82 | 13.85 | 13.90 | ||||
| 400 metres hurdles | 52.80 | 53.50 | 53.77 | ||||
| 2000 metres steeplechase | 5:57.99 | 5:59.97 | 6:01.00 | ||||
| relay | 41.08 | 42.28 | 42.35 | ||||
| High jump | 2.11 m | 2.09 m | 2.09 m | ||||
| Pole vault | 5.00 m | 4.90 m | 4.75 m | ||||
| Long jump | 7.60 m | 7.53 m | 7.45 m | ||||
| Shot put | 19.41 m | 19.33 m | 19.31 m | ||||
| Discus throw | 60.82 m | 56.76 m | 56.76 m | ||||
| Javelin throw | 64.56 m | 61.28 m | 60.94 m |
| 100 metres | 11.75 | 11.92 | 12.00 | ||||
| 200 metres (wind: +2.7 m/s) | 24.11 | 24.41 | 24.70 | ||||
| 400 metres | 55.47 | 55.85 | 56.00 | ||||
| 800 metres | 2:09.64 | 2:11.08 | 2:12.45 | ||||
| 1500 metres | 4:26.95 | 4:28.69 | 4:30.13 | ||||
| 100 metres hurdles (wind: +2.6 m/s) | 13.51 | 13.61 | 13.78 | ||||
| 400 metres hurdles | 59.75 | 61.06 | 61.41 | ||||
| relay | 46.25 | 46.52 | 46.93 | ||||
| High jump | 1.80 m | 1.80 m | 1.75 m | ||||
| Long jump | 6.25 m | 6.24 m | 6.19 m | ||||
| Shot put | 15.27 m | 14.63 m | 14.40 m | ||||
| Discus throw | 49.54 m | 47.88 m | 47.66 m | ||||
| Javelin throw | 51.64 m | 50.50 m | 47.62 m |