The athletics competition in the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games were held at the Estadio Pedro Marrero in Havana, Cuba.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cuba (CUB) | 27 | 19 | 14 | 60 |
| 2 |  Mexico (MEX) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 |
| 3 |  Puerto Rico (PUR) | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| 4 |  Jamaica (JAM) | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 5 |  Bahamas (BAH) | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 |  Trinidad and Tobago (TTO) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 |  Guyana (GUY) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 |  Venezuela (VEN) | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| 9 |  Dominican Republic (DOM) | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 10 |  Barbados (BAR) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Bermuda (BER) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (11 entries) | 40 | 40 | 40 | 120 | |
Bertland "Bert" Cameron is a retired Jamaican sprinter who mainly competed over 400 metres. He represented Jamaica at three consecutive editions of the Summer Olympics. Cameron won the 400 m title at the first World Championships in Athletics. He was also the 1982 Commonwealth Games champion in the event and won a number of gold medals at regional competitions. He helped the Jamaican runners to a silver medal in the 4×400 metres relay at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
The athletics competition in the 1962 Central American and Caribbean Games was held in Kingston, Jamaica.
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 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
The track and field competition at the 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games was held in Mexico City, Mexico.
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.
Yojer Enrique Medina is a Venezuelan shot putter and discus thrower.
Athletics was a sport at the inaugural Central American Games in 1926 and it has remained part of the event's sporting programme throughout its history.
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.
Frank Montiéh is a Cuban track and field hurdler who competed in the 400 metres hurdles. He was the 1983 Pan American Games champion in the event and also the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games champion.
Genovevo Morejón is a Cuban former track and field athlete who competed in the hammer throw. His personal best was 70.22 m, set in Havana on 20 June 1980. His greatest honour was the gold medal at the Pan American Games in 1983, becoming the first Caribbean man to win that title.
Gerardo Agustín Alcalá García is a Mexican former long-distance runner.
Antonio González is a Cuban former javelin thrower. He set a personal best of 85.66 m in 1982. He was a silver medallist at the 1979 Pan American Games and was bronze medallist at the 1979 IAAF World Cup.
Rubén Camino is a retired Cuban pole vaulter.
Victoria Despaigne is a retired Cuban heptathlete, high jumper, and long jumper.
Ester Petitón is a retired Cuban sprinter who specialized in the 200 and 400 metres.
Mercedes Álvarez is a retired Cuban sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.
Miguel Valle is a retired Cuban decathlete.