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| 2018 in athletics (track and field) | |
|---|---|
| Year | 2018 |
2018 in athletics (track and field) The 2018 season in athletics featured a full calendar of international multi-sport events, continental continental championships, World Athletics indoor and junior competitions, plus meetings on the Diamond League circuit and national championships across United States, Kenya, Jamaica, United Kingdom, Germany and China. Stars such as Usain Bolt's successors and established champions like Mo Farah, Eliud Kipchoge, Allyson Felix, Christophe Lemaitre and Renaud Lavillenie shaped narratives alongside emerging talents from Ethiopia, Kenya, Japan and Nigeria. The year also saw high-profile doping cases involving athletes, federations, and changes at governing bodies including World Athletics and the International Olympic Committee's influence on anti-doping policy.
The calendar included the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, the European Athletics Championships in Berlin, the biennial IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, and the inaugural IAAF Continental Cup edition scheduling controversies involving European Athletics and Athletics Kenya. The Diamond League circuit visited venues like Oslo, Rome, Monaco, London and Doha, while road events such as the Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon and New York City Marathon drew elite fields featuring Kenenisa Bekele, Eliud Kipchoge, Brigid Kosgei and Mary Keitany. The season intersected with multi-sport meetings including the Commonwealth Games planning and national trials for federations like USA Track & Field, UK Athletics, and Athletics Canada.
At the European Athletics Championships in Berlin, champions emerged in marquee events with performances from athletes linked to federations such as UK Athletics, Fédération Française d'Athlétisme, Deutscher Leichtathletik-Verband and Real Federación Española de Atletismo. The IAAF World Indoor Championships saw medallists from United States, Russia (competing under neutral status), Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia succeed in indoor sprint and field events. The Asian Athletics Championships, African Championships in Athletics, South American Championships in Athletics and Oceania Athletics Championships highlighted regional stars from China, Japan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. Juniors at the IAAF World U20 Championships showcased prospects from Jamaica, Bahamas, Germany and Ethiopia poised for senior success.
World-leading marks included top times in the men's marathon by Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele, while sprinting saw sub-10 and sub-11 performances by sprinters associated with Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, USA Track & Field and Jamaican Olympic Association squads. Field events had standout results by athletes linked to Fédération Française d'Athlétisme and Polish Athletics Association, with national records set in the pole vault by competitors aligned with Fédération Française d'Athlétisme and German Athletics clubs. World records remained under threat in distance, hurdles and combined events, and continental records fell in Africa, Asia and South America at championship meetings, influenced by training groups from Kenyan athletics camps, Ethiopian running camps, Japanese corporate teams and US collegiate programs such as those under NCAA jurisdiction.
Seasonal awards from World Athletics (formerly IAAF) recognized top male and female performers across track and field, with annual rankings incorporating results from the Diamond League, World and continental championships, and major road races including World Marathon Majors stops in London and Berlin. National federations like USA Track & Field, British Athletics, Athletics Australia and Athletics Kenya issued domestic awards, while publications such as Track & Field News and broadcasters including BBC Sport and ESPN compiled athlete-of-the-year lists and world rankings that reflected performances by athletes associated with prestigious training groups and clubs.
National championships across federations—USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, British Athletics Championships, Kenyan Athletics Championships, Japanese National Championships and Chinese National Games—served as selection trials for continental and global events, with notable performances from athletes tied to collegiate programs like NCAA Division I and corporate teams in Japan. Invitationals such as the Prefontaine Classic, Memorial Van Damme, Bislett Games and Shanghai Golden Grand Prix featured international fields including champions from Jamaica, USA, Ethiopia and Kenya, and meetings staged by organizing bodies such as European Athletics and national promoters.
High-profile anti-doping cases involved athletes and federations under scrutiny by WADA and World Athletics's integrity unit, leading to provisional suspensions, bans, and reinstatements. Cases connected with national anti-doping organizations such as USADA, UK Anti-Doping, Kenya Anti-Doping and Anti-Doping Agency of Russia influenced team selections and championship results. Disciplinary actions affected athletes from multiple countries and prompted policy responses from International Olympic Committee stakeholders and continental bodies like European Athletics.
The season saw retirements of notable competitors affiliated with federations including UK Athletics, USA Track & Field and Athletics Kenya, while coaching and administrative changes occurred at organizations like World Athletics and national federations. The athletics community mourned the deaths of former champions and coaches from countries such as United States, Jamaica, Ethiopia and Kenya, with tributes from institutions including International Association of Athletics Federations stakeholders and national governing bodies.
Category:Athletics by year