Mirroring the Olympic athletics programme, both men and women had very similar schedules of events. Men competed in 24 events and women in 23, as their schedule lacks the 50 km race walk. In addition, both the men's 110 m hurdles and decathlon are reflected in the women's schedule by the 100 m hurdles and heptathlon, respectively.
As they had done in the 2007 edition, Cuba topped the athletics medal table, taking 18 gold medals and 33 medals in total. The Brazilian team were a clear second with ten golds and 23 medals overall. The hosts Mexico and the United States both won four events each, while Colombia had the third greatest medal haul with seventeen altogether.
Over the seven-day competition, fourteen Pan American Games records were equalled or bettered. Furthermore, two South American records were set: Brazil's Lucimara da Silva broke the heptathlon record and the Brazilian women's 4×100 metres relay quartet also improved a continental mark.
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 100 metres}} | Lerone Clarke|JAM|2011}} | 10.01 SB | Kim Collins|SKN|2011}} | 10.04 | Emmanuel Callender|TRI|2011}} | 10.16 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 200 metres}} | Roberto Skyers|CUB|2011}} | 20.37 | Lansford Spence|JAM|2011}} | 20.38 | Bruno de Barros|BRA|2011}} | 20.45 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 400 metres}} | Nery Brenes|CRC|2011}} | 44.65 NR | Luguelin Santos|DOM|2011}} | 44.71 NR | Ramon Miller|BAH|2011}} | 45.01 SB |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 800 metres}} | Andy González|CUB|2011}} | 1:45.58 SB | Kléberson Davide|BRA|2011}} | 1:45.75 | Raidel Acea|CUB|2011}} | 1:46.23 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 1500 metres}} | Leandro de Oliveira|BRA|2011}} | 3:53.44 | Byron Piedra|ECU|2011}} | 3:53.45 | Eduar Villanueva|VEN|2011}} | 3:54.06 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 5,000 metres}} | Juan Luis Barrios|MEX|2011}} | 14:13.77 | Byron Piedra|ECU|2011}} | 14:15.74 | Joilson da Silva|BRA|2011}} | 14:16.11 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 10,000 metres}} | Marílson dos Santos|BRA|2011}} | 29:00.64 | Juan Carlos Romero|MEX|2011}} | 29:41.00 | Giovani dos Santos|BRA|2011}} | 29:51.71 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 110 metres hurdles}} | Dayron Robles|CUB|2011}} | 13.10 GR | Paulo Villar|COL|2011}} | 13.27 AR | Orlando Ortega|CUB|2011}} | 13.30 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 400 metres hurdles}} | Omar Cisneros|CUB|2011}} | 47.99 GR, NR | Isa Phillips|JAM|2011}} | 48.82 | Félix Sánchez|DOM|2011}} | 48.85 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase}} | José Peña|VEN|2011}} | 8:48.19 | Hudson de Souza|BRA|2011}} | 8:48.75 | José Alberto Sánchez|CUB|2011}} | 8:49.75 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay}} | BRA|2011}} Ailson Feitosa Sandro Viana Nilson André Bruno de Barros | 38.18 GR | SKN|2011}} Jason Rogers Antoine Adams Delwayne Delaney Brijesh Lawrence | 38.81 | USA|2011}} Calesio Newman Jeremy Dodson Rubin Williams Monzavous Edwards | 39.17 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 4 × 400 metres relay}} | CUB|2011}} Noel Ruíz Raidel Acea Omar Cisneros William Collazo2:59.43 SB | DOM|2011}} Arismendy Peguero Luguelin Santos Yoel Tapia Gustavo Cuesta | 3:00.44 NR | VEN|2011}} Arturo Ramírez Alberto Aguilar José Acevedo Omar Longart | 3:00.82 NR |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's marathon}} | Solonei da Silva|BRA|2011}} | 2:16:37 | Diego Colorado|COL|2011}} | 2:17:13 PB | Juan Carlos Cardona|COL|2011}} | 2:18:20 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 20 kilometres walk}} | Erick Barrondo|GUA|2011}} | 1:21:51 | James Rendón|COL|2011}} | 1:22:46 | Luis Fernando López|COL|2011}} | 1:22:51 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's 50 kilometres walk}} | Horacio Nava|MEX|2011}} | 3:48.58 | José Leyver|MEX|2011}} | 3:49.16 PB | Jaime Quiyuch|GUA|2011}} | 3:50.33 PB |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's high jump}} | Donald Thomas|BAH|2011}} | 2.32 | Diego Ferrin|ECU|2011}} | 2.30 NR | Víctor Moya|CUB|2011}} | 2.26 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's pole vault}} | Lázaro Borges|CUB|2011}} | 5.80 GR | Jeremy Scott|USA|2011}} | 5.60 | Giovanni Lanaro|MEX|2011}} | 5.50 |
† {{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's long jump}} | Daniel Pineda|CHI|2011}} | 7.97 | David Registe|DMA|2011}} | 7.89 | Jeremy Hicks|USA|2011}} | 7.83 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's triple jump}} | Alexis Copello|CUB|2011}} | 17.21 | Yoandri Betanzos|CUB|2011}} | 16.54 | Jefferson Sabino|BRA|2011}} | 16.51 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's shot put}} | Dylan Armstrong|CAN|2011}} | 21.30 GR | Carlos Véliz|CUB|2011}} | 20.76 | Germán Lauro|ARG|2011}} | 20.41 SB |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's discus throw}} | Jorge Fernández|CUB|2011}} | 65.58 | Jarred Rome|USA|2011}} | 61.71 | Ronald Julião|BRA|2011}} | 61.70 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's hammer throw}} | Kibwe Johnson|USA|2011}} | 79.63 GR | Michael Mai|USA|2011}} | 72.71 | Noleysis Vicet|CUB|2011}} | 72.57 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's javelin throw}} | Guillermo Martínez|CUB|2011}} | 87.20 GR, NR | Cyrus Hostetler|USA|2011}} | 82.24 SB | Braian Toledo|ARG|2011}} | 79.53 PB |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Men's decathlon}} | Leonel Suárez|CUB|2011}} | 8373 GR | Maurice Smith|JAM|2011}} | 8214 SB | Yordani Garcia|CUB|2011}} | 8074 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 100 metres}} | Rosângela Santos|BRA|2011}} | 11.22 PB | Barbara Pierre|USA|2011}} | 11.25 | Shakera Reece|BAR|2011}} | 11.26 NR |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 200 metres}} | Ana Cláudia Silva|BRA|2011}} | 22.76 | Simone Facey|JAM|2011}} | 22.86 PB | Mariely Sánchez|DOM|2011}} | 23.02 NR |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 400 metres}} | Jennifer Padilla|COL|2011}} | 51.53 PB | Daisurami Bonne|CUB|2011}} | 51.69 PB | Geisa Coutinho|BRA|2011}} | 51.87 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 800 metres}} | Adriana Muñoz|CUB|2011}} | 2:04.08 | Gabriela Medina|MEX|2011}} | 2:04.41 SB | Rosibel García|COL|2011}} | 2:04.45 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 1500 metres}} | Adriana Muñoz|CUB|2011}} | 4:26.09 | Rosibel García|COL|2011}} | 4:26.78 | Malindi Elmore|CAN|2011}} | 4:27.57 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 5,000 metres}} | Marisol Romero|MEX|2011}} | 16:24.08 | Cruz da Silva|BRA|2011}} | 16:29.75 | Inés Melchor|PER|2011}} | 16:41.50 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 10,000 metres}} | Marisol Romero|MEX|2011}} | 34:07.24 | Cruz da Silva|BRA|2011}} | 34:22.44 | Yolanda Caballero|COL|2011}} | 34:39.14 PB |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 100 metres hurdles}} | Yvette Lewis|USA|2011}} | 12.82 | Angela Whyte|CAN|2011}} | 13.09 | Lina Flórez|COL|2011}} | 13.09 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 400 metres hurdles}} | Princesa Oliveros|COL|2011}} | 56.26 PB | Lucy Jaramillo|ECU|2011}} | 56.95 NR | Yolanda Osana|DOM|2011}} | 57.08 NR |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 3000 metres steeplechase}} | Sara Hall|USA|2011}} | 10:03.16 | Ángela Figueroa|COL|2011}} | 10:10.14 | Sabine Heitling|BRA|2011}} | 10:10.98 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay}} | BRA|2011}} Ana Cláudia Silva Vanda Gomes Franciela Krasucki Rosângela Santos | 42.85 AR | USA|2011}} Kenyanna Wilson Barbara Pierre Yvette Lewis Chastity Riggien | 43.10 | COL|2011}} Lina Flórez Jennifer Padilla Yomara Hinestroza Norma González | 43.44 SB |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay}} | CUB|2011}} Aymée Martínez Diosmely Peña Susana Clement Daisurami Bonne | 3:28.09 | BRA|2011}} Joelma Sousa Geisa Coutinho Bárbara de Oliveira Jailma de Lima | 3:29.59 | COL|2011}} Princesa Oliveros Norma González Evelis Aguilar Jennifer Padilla | 3:29.94 NR |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's marathon}} | Adriana Aparecida da Silva|BRA|2011}} | 2:36:37 GR | Madaí Pérez|MEX|2011}} | 2:38:03 | Gladys Tejeda|PER|2011}} | 2:42:09 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's 20 kilometres walk}} | Jamy Franco|GUA|2011}} | 1:32:38 GR | Mirna Ortiz|GUA|2011}} | 1:33:37 PB | Ingrid Hernández|COL|2011}} | 1:34:06 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's high jump}} | Lesyani Mayor|CUB|2011}} | 1.89 SB | Marielys Rojas|VEN|2011}} | 1.89 SB | Romary Rifka|MEX|2011}} | 1.89 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's pole vault}} | Yarisley Silva|CUB|2011}} | 4.75 GR | Fabiana Murer|BRA|2011}} | 4.70 | Becky Holliday|USA|2011}} | 4.30 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's long jump}} | Maurren Maggi|BRA|2011}} | 6.94 SB | Shameka Marshall|USA|2011}} | 6.73 | Caterine Ibargüen|COL|2011}} | 6.63 NR |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's triple jump}} | Caterine Ibargüen|COL|2011}} | 14.92 GR | Yargelis Savigne|CUB|2011}} | 14.36 | Mabel Gay|CUB|2011}} | 14.28 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's shot put}} | Misleydis González|CUB|2011}} | 18.57 | Cleopatra Borel-Brown|TRI|2011}} | 18.46 PB | Michelle Carter|USA|2011}} | 18.09 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's discus throw}} | Yarelys Barrios|CUB|2011}} | 66.40 GR | Aretha Thurmond|USA|2011}} | 59.53 | Denia Caballero|CUB|2011}} | 58.63 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's hammer throw}} | Yipsi Moreno|CUB|2011}} | 75.62 GR | Sultana Frizell|CAN|2011}} | 70.11 | Amber Campbell|USA|2011}} | 69.93 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's javelin throw}} | Alicia DeShasier|USA|2011}} | 58.01 PB | Yainelis Ribeaux|CUB|2011}} | 56.21 | Yanet Cruz|CUB|2011}} | 56.19 |
{{DetailsLink>Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's heptathlon}} | Lucimara da Silva|BRA|2011}} | 6133 AR PB | Yasmiany Pedroso|CUB|2011}} | 5844 | Francia Manzanillo|DOM|2011}} | 5710 PB |
A total of 668 athletes from 39 countries were entered in the athletics competition.[3] A maximum of two participants were allowed per country for each individual event. Nations were able to enter one competitor who had not achieved the minimum standard performance. To register a second competitor, both athletes needed to have achieved the minimum standard performance.[1]
{{col-begin|width=100%}}{{col-break}}1. ^1 Athletics technical manual {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125191146/http://www.guadalajara2011.org.mx/documentos/manuales/eng/technical/tm_athletics.pdf |date=November 25, 2010 }}
2. ^Long jumper fails doping test. Supersport/SAPA AP (2011-11-10). Retrieved on 2011-11-10.
3. ^Athletics entry list {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017182601/http://info.guadalajara2011.org.mx/ENG/ZZ/ZZE100B_AT%40%40%40%40%40%40%40%40%40%40%40%40%40%40%40ENG.htm |date=October 17, 2011 }}