This article contains an overview of the sport of athletics, including track and field, cross country and road running, in the year 2001.

The foremost competition of the season was the 2001 World Championships in Athletics in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The 2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships was the second major track and field event that year.

Major events

World

World Championships World Cross Country Championships World Half Marathon Championships Grand Prix Final World Indoor Championships World Youth Championships World Student Games Goodwill Games

Regional

African Junior Championships Asian Cross Country Championships East Asian Games Maccabiah Games Southeast Asian Games Balkan Games European Cup European Junior Championships European U23 Championships European Cross Country Championships European Race Walking Cup Island Games Mediterranean Games Bolivarian Games CAC Championships Central American Games Jeux de la Francophonie Pan American Junior Championships South American Championships

National China National Games Lithuanian Athletics Championships

World records

Men Event Athlete Nation Performance Meeting Place Date3000 metresBrahim Boulami7:55.28 Brussels, Belgium24 AugustDecathlonRoman Sebrle9,026 Götzis, Austria26-27 May

Women Event Athlete Nation Performance Meeting Place Date3000 m steeplechaseJustyna Bak9:25.31 Nice, France9 JulyPole vaultStacy Dragila4.63 m New York, USA2 FebruaryPole vaultSvetlana Feofanova4.64 m Dortmund, Germany11 FebruaryPole vaultStacy Dragila4.66 m Pocatello, USA17 FebruaryPole vaultStacy Dragila4.70 m Pocatello, USA17 FebruaryPole vaultStacy Dragila4.70 m Pocatello, USA27 AprilPole vaultStacy Dragila4.71 m Stanford, USA9 JunePole vaultStacy Dragila4.81 m Stanford, USA9 JuneJavelin Throw (new)Osleidys Menéndez71.54 m Rethymno, Greece1 July

Awards

Men 2001 TRACK & FIELD AWARDSATHLETEIAAF World Athlete of the YearTrack & Field Athlete of the YearEuropean Athlete of the Year AwardBest Male Track Athlete ESPY Award

Women 2001 TRACK & FIELD AWARDSATHLETEIAAF World Athlete of the YearTrack & Field Athlete of the YearEuropean Athlete of the Year AwardBest Female Track Athlete ESPY Award

Men's Best Year Performances

Marathon

400m Hurdles RANK2001 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.47.382.47.543.47.894.47.955.47.99

3,000m Steeplechase RANK2001 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.7:55.282.7:57.293.7:58.664.8:01.695.8:01.73

Pole Vault RANK2001 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSHEIGHT1.6.05 m2.5.91 m3.5.90 m5.5.86 m

Hammer throw

Decathlon

Women's Best Year Performances

100 metres RANK2001 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.10.822.10.913.10.954.10.98

200 metres RANK2001 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.22.393.22.545.22.57

Half Marathon RANK2001 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.1:06:47

Marathon

100m Hurdles RANK2001 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.12.422.12.533.12.574.12.58

400m Hurdles RANK2001 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.53.342.53.813.53.844.53.885.53.89

3,000m Steeplechase RANK2001 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.9:44.362.9:44.683.9:45.924.9:49.415.9:49.73

High Jump RANK2001 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSHEIGHT1.2.04 m2.2.03 m3.2.01 m4.2.00 m

Pole Vault RANK2001 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSHEIGHT1.4.81 m2.4.75 m3.4.61 m5.4.60 m

Hammer throw

Heptathlon RANK2001 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSPOINTS1.67362.66943.65514.65395.6528

Deaths March 31 — Diego García (39), Spanish long-distance runner (b. 1961) August 15 — Richard Chelimo (29), Kenyan athlete (b. 1972) October 17 — Micheline Ostermeyer (78), French athlete (b. 1922)

References ARRS