1979 in the sport of athletics

This article contains an overview of the year 1979 in athletics.

Major events World World Cross Country Championships World Cup

Regional

African Championships Asian Championships CARIFTA Games Central American and Caribbean Championships European Indoor Championships Pan American Games South American Championships South American Youth Championships Summer Universiade

World records Men Event Athlete Nation Performance Meeting Place Date200 mPietro Mennea19.72 Mexico City, Mexico12 September800 mSebastian Coe1:42.33 Oslo, Norway5 July1500 mSebastian Coe3:32.03 Zürich, Switzerland15 AugustMileSebastian Coe3:48.95 Oslo, Norway17 July110 m hurdlesRenaldo Nehemiah13.16 San Jose, United States14 April110 m hurdlesRenaldo Nehemiah13.00 Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United States6 May

Women Event Athlete Nation Performance Meeting Place Date200 mMarita Koch22.02 Leipzig, East Germany3 June200 mMarita Koch21.71 Karl-Marx-Stadt, East Germany10 June400 mMarita Koch48.89 Potsdam, East Germany29 July400 mMarita Koch48.60 Turin, Italy4 AugustMileNatalia Mărășescu4:22.1 Auckland, New Zealand27 January100 m hurdlesGrażyna Rabsztyn12.48This time did not set a new world record. Rather, it equaled Rabsztyn's existing world record. Warsaw, Poland18 June400 m hurdlesMarina Styepanova54.78 Moscow, Russia27 JulyJavelin throwRuth Fuchs69.52 m Dresden, East Germany13 June4 × 100 metres relayMarita KochRomy MüllerIngrid AuerswaldMarlies Göhr42.10 Karl-Marx-Stadt, East Germany10 June4 × 100 metres relayChristina LathanRomy MüllerIngrid AuerswaldMarlies Göhr42.09 Turin, Italy4 August4 × 200 metres relayRaisa MakhovaNina ZyuskovaTatyana ProrochenkoMaria Kulchunova1:30.74This team represented Ukraine, at the time a part of the Soviet Union. Moscow, Soviet Union29 July

Season's bests 100 metres 10.01 10.97 200 metres 19.72 WR 21.71 WR400 metres 44.92 48.60 WR800 metres 1:42.33 WR 1:56.2 1500 metres 3:32.03 WR 3:57.4 3000 metres 7:37.70 8:31.75 5000 metres 13:12.29 —10,000 metres 27:36.8 —100/110 metres hurdles 13.00 WR 12.48 WR400 metres hurdles 47.53 54.78 WR3000 metres steeplechase 8:17.92 —High jump 2.32 m 1.99 m Pole vault 5.65 m —Long jump 8.52 m 6.90 m Triple jump 17.27 m —Shot put 21.74 m 22.04 m Discus throw 70.66 m 69.82 m Hammer throw 79.82 m —Javelin throw 93.84 m 69.52 m WRDecathlon 8476 pts —4 × 100 metres relay Mike RobersonHarvey GlanceBill CollinsMel Lattany 38.30 Christina LathanRomy MüllerIngrid AuerswaldMarlies Göhr 42.09 WR4 × 400 metres relay Herman FrazierBill GreenWillie SmithTony Darden 3:00.70 Gabriele KotteChristina LathanBrigitte RohdeMarita Koch 3:19.62

Notes

References