1991 in the sport of athletics

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1991 in athletics
Major world events World Championships
World Indoor Championships
← 1990
1992 →

This article contains an overview of the year 1991 in athletics.

Contents

International Events

World records

Men

EVENTATHLETEMARKDATEVENUE
100 metres Flag of the United States.svg  Leroy Burrell  (USA)9.9014 JuneNew York City, USA
Flag of the United States.svg  Carl Lewis  (USA)9.8625 AugustTokyo, Japan
20,000 metres Flag of Mexico.svg  Arturo Barrios  (MEX)56:55.630 March La Flèche, France
One hour run Flag of Mexico.svg  Arturo Barrios  (MEX)21,101m30 March La Flèche, France
4 × 100 m Relay Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)
• Michael Marsh
• Leroy Burrell
• Dennis Mitchell
• Carl Lewis 		37.677 August Zürich
Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)
• Andre Cason
• Leroy Burrell
• Dennis Mitchell
• Carl Lewis 		37.501 SeptemberTokyo
Pole vault Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Sergey Bubka  (URS)6.07m6 May Shizuoka, Japan
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Sergey Bubka  (URS)6.08m9 JuneMoscow
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Sergey Bubka  (URS)6.09m8 July Formia, Italy
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Sergey Bubka  (URS)6.10m5 August Malmö, Sweden
Long jump Flag of the United States.svg  Mike Powell  (USA)8.95m30 AugustTokyo

Women

EVENTATHLETEMARKDATEVENUE
Triple jump Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Inessa Kravets  (URS)14.95 m10 JuneMoscow, Soviet Union
Half marathon Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  Elana Meyer  (RSA)1:07:5918 May East London, South Africa

Men's Best Year Performers

100 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 100 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of the United States.svg  Carl Lewis  (USA)9.86
2.Flag of the United States.svg  Leroy Burrell  (USA)9.88
3.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Linford Christie  (GBR)9.92
4.Flag of Namibia.svg  Frank Fredericks  (NAM)9.95
5.Flag of Jamaica.svg  Raymond Stewart  (JAM)9.96

200 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 200 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of the United States.svg  Michael Johnson  (USA)19.88
2.Flag of Namibia.svg  Frank Fredericks  (NAM)20.08
3.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  John Regis  (GBR)20.12
4.Flag of the United States.svg  Danny Everett  (USA)20.13
5.Flag of Brazil.svg  Robson da Silva  (BRA)20.15

400 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 400 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of the United States.svg  Michael Johnson  (USA)44.17
2.Flag of the United States.svg  Antonio Pettigrew  (USA)44.36
3.Flag of Cuba.svg  Roberto Hernández  (CUB)44.40
4.Flag of the United States.svg  Danny Everett  (USA)44.42
5.Flag of the United States.svg  Steve Lewis  (USA)44.52

800 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 800 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of Brazil.svg  José Luíz Barbosa  (BRA)1:43.08
2.Flag of Kenya.svg  William Tanui  (KEN)1:43.30
3.Flag of the United States.svg  Johnny Gray  (USA)1:43.84
4.Flag of the United States.svg  Mark Everett  (USA)1:43.93
5.Flag of Kenya.svg  Billy Konchellah  (KEN)1:43.96

1,500 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 1,500 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of Algeria.svg  Noureddine Morceli  (ALG)3:31.00
2.Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Simon Doyle  (AUS)3:31.96
3.Flag of Spain.svg  Fermín Cacho  (ESP)3:32.03
4.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Peter Elliott  (GBR)3:32.94
5.Flag of Morocco.svg  Saïd Aouita  (MAR)3:33.28

Mile

RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of Algeria.svg  Noureddine Morceli  (ALG)3:49.12
2.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Peter Elliott  (GBR)3:49.46
3.Flag of Kenya.svg  Wilfred Kirochi  (KEN)3:49.77
4.Flag of the United States.svg  Jim Spivey  (USA)3:49.83
5.Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Simon Doyle  (AUS)3:49.91

3,000 metres

RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of Germany.svg  Dieter Baumann  (FRG)7:33.91
2.Flag of Kenya.svg  Yobes Ondieki  (KEN)7:34.74
3.Flag of Algeria.svg  Noureddine Morceli  (ALG)7:37.34
4.Flag of Morocco.svg  Brahim Boutayeb  (MAR)7:38.39
5.Flag of Morocco.svg  Khalid Skah  (MAR)7:38.84

5,000 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 5,000 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of Kenya.svg  Yobes Ondieki  (KEN)13:01.82
2.Flag of Kenya.svg  Ibrahim Kinuthia  (KEN)13:09.76
3.Flag of Italy.svg  Salvatore Antibo  (ITA)13:10.10
4.Flag of Morocco.svg  Brahim Boutayeb  (MAR)13:10.44
5.Flag of Kenya.svg  Richard Chelimo  (KEN)13:11.76

10,000 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 10,000 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of Kenya.svg  Richard Chelimo  (KEN)27:11.18
2.Flag of Kenya.svg  John Ngugi  (KEN)27:11.62
3.Flag of Morocco.svg  Khalid Skah  (MAR)27:23.29
4.Flag of Italy.svg  Salvatore Antibo  (ITA)27:24.55
5.Flag of Kenya.svg  Thomas Osano  (KEN)27:28.87

Half marathon

RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  Lawrence Peu  (RSA)1:00:58

Marathon

Main race this year: World Championships Marathon
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of Japan.svg  Koichi Morishita  (JPN)2:08:53
2.Flag of Japan.svg  Takeyuki Nakayama  (JPN)2:09:12
3.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Yakov Tolstikov  (URS)2:09:17
4.Flag of Japan.svg  Toru Mimura  (JPN)2:09:23
5.Flag of Mexico.svg  Salvador García  (MEX)2:09:28

110m hurdles

Main race this year: World Championships 110m hurdles
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of the United States.svg  Tony Dees  (USA)13.05
2.Flag of the United States.svg  Greg Foster  (USA)13.06
—Flag of the United States.svg  Jack Pierce  (USA)13.06
4.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Colin Jackson  (GBR)13.09
5.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Tony Jarrett  (GBR)13.13

400m hurdles

Main race this year: World Championships 400m hurdles
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of Zambia.svg  Samuel Matete  (ZAM)47.10
2.Flag of the United States.svg  Danny Harris  (USA)47.38
3.Flag of Jamaica.svg  Winthrop Graham  (JAM)47.74
4.Flag of the United States.svg  Kevin Young  (USA)47.83
5.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Kriss Akabusi  (GBR)47.86

3,000m steeplechase

Main race this year: World Championships 3,000m steeplechase
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of Kenya.svg  Moses Kiptanui  (KEN)8:06.46
2.Flag of Kenya.svg  Philip Barkutwo  (KEN)8:08.39
3.Flag of the United States.svg  Mark Croghan  (USA)8:10.69
4.Flag of Kenya.svg  Julius Kariuki  (KEN)8:11.28
5.Flag of Kenya.svg  William Mutwol  (KEN)8:11.85

High jump

Main competition this year: World Championships High Jump
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSHEIGHT
1.Flag of Cuba.svg  Javier Sotomayor  (CUB)2.40
Flag of the United States.svg  Charles Austin  (USA)
3.Flag of the United States.svg  Hollis Conway  (USA)2.37
4.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Dalton Grant  (GBR)2.36
5.Flag of Romania.svg  Sorin Matei  (ROM)2.35
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Troy Kemp  (BAH)

Long jump

Main competition this year: World Championships Long Jump
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE
1.Flag of the United States.svg  Mike Powell  (USA)8.95
2.Flag of the United States.svg  Carl Lewis  (USA)8.87
3.Flag of the United States.svg  Larry Myricks  (USA)8.50
Flag of the United States.svg  Llewellyn Starks  (USA)
5.Flag of the United States.svg  Gordon Laine  (USA)8.28

Triple jump

Main competition this year: World Championships Triple Jump
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE
1.Flag of the United States.svg  Kenny Harrison  (USA)17.78
2.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Leonid Voloshin  (URS)17.75
3.Flag of Germany.svg  Ralf Jaros  (GER)17.66
4.Flag of the United States.svg  Mike Conley  (USA)17.62
5.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Oleg Denishchik  (URS)17.53

Discus

Main competition this year: World Championships Discus Throw
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE
1.Flag of the United States.svg  Mike Buncic  (USA)69.36
2.Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Erik de Bruin  (NED)68.12
3.Flag of Nigeria.svg  Adewale Olukoju  (NGR)67.80
4.Flag of Germany.svg  Lars Riedel  (GER)67.78
5.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Romas Ubartas  (URS)67.54

Shot put

Main competition this year: World Championships Shot Put
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE
1.Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Werner Günthör  (SUI)22.03
2.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Vyacheslav Lykho  (URS)20.77
3.Flag of Norway.svg  Lars-Arvid Nilsen  (NOR)20.75
4.Flag of Lithuania.svg  Saulius Kleiza  (LTU)20.67
5.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Sergey Smirnov  (URS)20.55

Hammer

RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Igor Astapkovich  (URS)84.26
2.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Andrey Abduvaliyev  (URS)82.80
3.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Yuriy Sedykh  (URS)82.62
4.Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Plamen Minev  (BUL)82.40
5.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Sergey Alay  (URS)81.16

Javelin (new design)

Main competition this year: World Championships Javelin Throw
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE
1.Flag of Finland.svg  Seppo Räty  (FIN)96.96
2.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Steve Backley  (GBR)91.36
3.Flag of Germany.svg  Raymond Hecht  (GER)90.84
4.Flag of Finland.svg  Kimmo Kinnunen  (FIN)90.82
5.Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Jan Železný  (CZE)90.72

Pole vault

Main competition this year: World Championships Pole Vault
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSHEIGHT
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Sergey Bubka  (URS)6.10
2.Flag of Hungary.svg  István Bagyula  (HUN)5.92
3.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Radion Gataullin  (URS)5.90
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Igor Potapovich  (URS)
5.Flag of the United States.svg  Bill Payne  (USA)5.90

Decathlon

RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSPOINTS
1.Flag of the United States.svg  Dan O'Brien  (USA)8812
2.Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Michael Smith  (CAN)8549
3.Flag of France.svg  Christian Plaziat  (FRA)8518
4.Flag of the United States.svg  Dave Johnson  (USA)8467
5.Flag of Germany.svg  Christian Schenk  (GER)8402

Women's Best Year Performers

60 metres

RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Irina Privalova  (URS)7.02
2.Flag of Jamaica.svg  Merlene Ottey  (JAM)7.04
3.Flag of Germany.svg  Katrin Krabbe  (GER)7.06
4.Flag of Cuba.svg  Liliana Allen  (CUB)7.12
5,Flag of the United States.svg  Gwen Torrence  (USA)7.13

100 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 100 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of Jamaica.svg  Merlene Ottey  (JAM)10.79
2.Flag of Germany.svg  Katrin Krabbe  (GER)10.91
3.Flag of the United States.svg  Carlette Guidry  (USA)10.94
4.Flag of the United States.svg  Gwen Torrence  (USA)10.96
Flag of France.svg  Marie-José Pérec  (FRA)

200 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 200 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of Jamaica.svg  Merlene Ottey  (JAM)21.64
2.Flag of Germany.svg  Katrin Krabbe  (GER)21.96
3.Flag of the United States.svg  Gwen Torrence  (USA)22.07
4.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Irina Privalova  (URS)22.21
5.Flag of the United States.svg  Dannette Young  (USA)22.24

400 metres

RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of France.svg  Marie-José Pérec  (FRA)49.13
2.Flag of Germany.svg  Grit Breuer  (GER)49.42
3.Flag of Cuba.svg  Ana Fidelia Quirot  (CUB)49.61
4.Flag of the United States.svg  Lillie Leatherwood  (USA)49.66
5.Flag of Spain.svg  Sandra Myers  (ESP)49.67

800 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 800 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Svetlana Masterkova  (URS)1:57.23
2.Flag of Cuba.svg  Ana Fidelia Quirot  (CUB)1:57.34
3.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Liliya Nurutdinova  (URS)1:57.50
4.Flag of Romania.svg  Ella Kovacs  (ROM)1:57.58
5.Flag of Mozambique.svg  Maria de Lurdes Mutola  (MOZ)1:57.63

1,500 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 1,500 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Natalya Artyomova  (URS)3:59.16
2.Flag of Algeria.svg  Hassiba Boulmerka  (ALG)4:00.00
3.Flag of Romania.svg  Doina Melinte  (ROM)4:00.83
4.Flag of Romania.svg  Violeta Szekely  (ROM)4:02.21
5.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Tatyana Dorovskikh  (URS)4:02.58

Mile

RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Natalya Artyomova  (URS)4:17.00
2.Flag of Algeria.svg  Hassiba Boulmerka  (ALG)4:20.79
3.Flag of Romania.svg  Doina Melinte  (ROM)4:22.04
4.Flag of the United States.svg  Mary Slaney  (USA)4:23.35
5.Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  Zola Pieterse  (RSA)4:23.38

3,000 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 3,000 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  Elana Meyer  (RSA)8:32.00
2.Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  Zola Pieterse  (RSA)8:35.72
3.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Tatyana Dorovskikh  (URS)8:35.82
4.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Yvonne Murray  (GBR)8:36.05
5.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Yelena Romanova  (URS)8:36.06

5,000 metres

RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  Elana Meyer  (RSA)14:49.35
2.Flag of Germany.svg  Kathrin Ullrich  (GER)14:58.71
3.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Yelena Romanova  (URS)14:59.70
4.Flag of Kenya.svg  Susan Sirma  (KEN)15:03.52
5.Flag of Germany.svg  Uta Pippig  (GER)15:04.87

10,000 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 10,000 metres
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Liz McColgan  (GBR)30:57.07
2.Flag of Germany.svg  Kathrin Ullrich  (GER)31:03.62
3.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Jill Hunter  (GBR)31:07.88
4.Flag of Norway.svg  Ingrid Kristiansen  (NOR)31:20.28
5.Flag of the United States.svg  Francie Larrieu-Smith  (USA)31:28.92

Half marathon

RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  Elana Meyer  (RSA)1:07:59WR

Marathon

Main race this year: World Championships Marathon
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of Poland.svg  Wanda Panfil  (POL)2:24:18
2.Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Rosa Mota  (POR)2:26:14
3.Flag of the United States.svg  Kim Jones  (USA)2:26:40
4.Flag of Germany.svg  Uta Pippig  (GER)2:26:52
5.Flag of the United States.svg  Joan Benoit  (USA)2:26:54

60m hurdles

RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Ludmila Narozhilenko  (URS)7.82
Flag of France.svg  Monique Éwanjé-Épée  (FRA)7.82
3.Flag of Romania.svg  Mihaela Pogăcean  (ROM)7.88
4.Flag of France.svg  Anne Piquereau  (FRA)7.89
5.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Lidiya Yurkova  (URS)7.96

100m hurdles

Main race this year: World Championships 100m hurdles
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Ludmila Narozhilenko  (URS)12.28
2.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Nataliya Grygoryeva  (URS)12.39
3.Flag of the United States.svg  Gail Devers  (USA)12.48
4.Flag of France.svg  Monique Éwanjé-Épée  (FRA)12.67
5.Flag of France.svg  Florence Colle  (FRA)12.73

400m hurdles

Main race this year: World Championships 400m hurdles
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Tatyana Ledovskaya  (URS)53.11
2.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Sally Gunnell  (GBR)53.16
3.Flag of the United States.svg  Janeene Vickers  (USA)53.47
4.Flag of the United States.svg  Sandra Farmer-Patrick  (USA)53.54
5.Flag of the United States.svg  Kim Batten  (USA)53.98

High Jump

Main competition this year: World Championships High Jump
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSHEIGHT
1.Flag of Germany.svg  Heike Henkel  (GER)2.05 m
2.Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Stefka Kostadinova  (BUL)2.03 m
3.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Inga Babakova  (URS)2.02 m
4.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Yelena Gulyayeva  (URS)1.99 m
5.Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Svetlana Leseva  (BUL)1.98 m
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Yelena Yelesina  (URS)

Long Jump

Main competition this year: World Championships Long Jump
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE
1.Flag of Germany.svg  Heike Drechsler  (GER)7.37 m
2.Flag of the United States.svg  Jackie Joyner-Kersee  (USA)7.32 m
3.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Larisa Berezhnaya  (URS)7.24 m
4.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Yelena Sinchukova  (URS)7.20 m
5.Flag of Germany.svg  Susen Tiedtke  (GER)7.00 m

Triple Jump

RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Inessa Kravets  (URS)14.95 m
2.Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Li Huirong  (CHN)14.42 m
3.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Yelena Semiraz  (URS)14.35 m
4.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Svetlana Davydova  (URS)13.84 m
5.Flag of Romania.svg  Octavia Iacob  (ROM)13.74 m

Shot put

Main competition this year: World Championships Shot Put
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Natalya Lisovskaya  (URS)21.12 m
2.Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Huang Zhihong  (CHN)20.85 m
3.Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Zhou Tianhua  (CHN)20.40 m
4.Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Wang Wei  (CHN)19.58 m
5.Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Li Xiaoyun  (CHN)19.47 m

Javelin (old design)

Main competition this year: World Championships Javelin
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE
1.Flag of Norway.svg  Trine Hattestad  (NOR)71.44
2.Flag of Germany.svg  Karen Forkel  (GER)70.20
3.Flag of Germany.svg  Petra Meier  (GER)69.66
4.Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Xu Demei  (CHN)68.78
5.Flag of Germany.svg  Silke Renk  (GER)68.34

Heptathlon

Main competition this year: World Championships Heptathlon
RANK1991 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSPOINTS
1.Flag of the United States.svg  Jackie Joyner-Kersee  (USA)6878
2.Flag of Germany.svg  Sabine Braun  (GER)6672
3.Flag of Germany.svg  Peggy Beer  (GER)6494
4.Flag of Romania.svg  Liliana Nastase  (ROM)6493
5.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Irina Belova  (URS)6448

Births

Deaths

References

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