| Athletics at the XV CAC Games | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 29 June – 4 July |
| Host city |  Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic |
| Venue | Estadio La Barranquita |
| Events | 43 |
| Records set | 19 GR |
The athletics competition in the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
It was the first time that women's 10,000 metres, marathon and racewalking events were held.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cuba (CUB) | 27 | 16 | 8 | 51 |
| 2 |  Mexico (MEX) | 6 | 9 | 6 | 21 |
| 3 |  Colombia (COL) | 3 | 1 | 7 | 11 |
| 4 |  Bahamas (BAH) | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
| 5 |  Puerto Rico (PUR) | 2 | 3 | 6 | 11 |
| 6 |  Jamaica (JAM) | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 7 |  U.S. Virgin Islands (VIR) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 |  Guyana (GUY) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Dominican Republic (DOM) | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 10 |  Trinidad and Tobago (TTO) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
 Venezuela (VEN) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| 12 |  Barbados (BAR) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 13 |  Haiti (HAI) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Panama (PAN) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (14 entries) | 43 | 44 | 42 | 129 | |
The athletics competition in the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games were held at the Estadio Nacional in Panama City, Panama. It was the first time women's events were included.
The athletics competition in the 1946 Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Barranquilla, Colombia.
The athletics competition in the 1950 Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
The athletics competition in the 1954 Central American and Caribbean Games were held at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City, Mexico.
The athletics competition in the 1959 Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Caracas, Venezuela.
The athletics competition in the 1962 Central American and Caribbean Games was held in Kingston, Jamaica.
The athletics competition in the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The athletics competition in the 1970 Central American and Caribbean Games were held at the Estadio Revolución in Panama City, Panama.
The athletics competition in the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The athletics competition at the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games was held at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellín, Colombia.
The athletics competition in the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games were held at the Estadio Pedro Marrero in Havana, Cuba.
The track and field competition at the 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games was held at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City, Mexico, between 28 November and 2 December.
The track and field competition at the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games was held in November at the Estadio Francisco Montaner in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
The track and field competition in the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games was held in Maracaibo, Venezuela. It was the first edition to feature women's hammer throw and pole vault.
The 2001 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics were held at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala between 20–22 July.
Esther Julia "Daysi" Duporty Torres is a retired sprinter from Cuba, who competed at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1992. She set her personal best (50.61) in the women's 400 metres event on 6 September 1994 in Madrid.
Leleith Hodges is a Jamaican former track and field sprinter who competed mainly in the 100 metres. She was one of Jamaica's most prominent female runners of the 1970s.
Tomasa Ana Núñez Abreu was a Cuban track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw. She was Cuba's first gold medallist in the javelin at the Pan American Games, gaining that title in 1971. Her personal best of 54.64 m is a former Panamerican record. She won four titles at regional level at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1970 and 1974, as well as being the 1971 and 1973 champion at the Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics.
Emma Cabrera Palafox is a Mexican former long-distance runner who competed mainly in marathon. She was a two-time champion at the Central American and Caribbean Games and once at the Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics. She was a bronze medallist at the 1995 Pan American Games. Her personal best was 2:35:43 hours.
Mercedes Álvarez is a retired Cuban sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.