| Athletics at the 2018 Commonwealth Games | |
| Size: | 150px |
| Host City: | Gold Coast, Queensland |
| Dates: | 8–15 April 2018 |
| Stadium: | Carrara Stadium |
| Nations Participating: | 68 |
| Athletes Participating: | 952 |
| Events: | 50 |
| Records Set: | games records |
| Previous: | 2014 Glasgow |
| Next: | 2022 Birmingham |
| Games: | 2018 Commonwealth Games |
Athletics was one of ten core sports that appeared at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. As a founding sport, athletics has appeared consistently since its introduction at the 1911 Inter-Empire Games; the recognized precursor to the Commonwealth Games.[1] The competition took place between Sunday 8–15 April 2018 at the Carrara Stadium.
The programme featured an expanded event set for para-athletes with a total of six men's and six women's events, re presenting doubling of the number para-events at the previous games. This move was approved of by the para-athletes, and Kailyn Joseph noted that inclusion in the medal table alongside able-bodied events allowed her to share in the same environment, as opposed to the separation found in the Paralympics and World Para Athletics Championships.[2]
Two Indian athletes, racewalker Irfan Kolothum Thodi and triple jumper A.V. Rakesh Babu were removed from the games after a needle was found in their apartment, breaking games policy.[3] A Singapore para-athlete, Mohammad Khairi Ishak, was withdrawn from the men's T47 100 m after failing a drug test prior to the competition.[4] Other controversies of the athletics included the gold medal disqualification of Zharnel Hughes in the men's 200 m, after he impeded (eventual gold medallist) Jereem Richards, and the mid-race collapse of men's marathon leader Callum Hawkins.[5]
In preparation for hosting the Commonwealth Games Athletics events, the modified Carrara Stadium was used for the Australian Athletics Championships in February 2018.
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority conducted a series of anti-doping tests in the months before the games.[6] Australian sprinter Jessica Peris (daughter of former Commonwealth Games sprint champion Nova Peris) was among those to a fail doping test and she withdrew from the Australian trials event.[7]
Over the 10 days of competition there were 58 medal events including additional para-sport disciplines.
| Q | Qualification | H | Heats | S | Semi-final | F | Final |