This article contains an overview of the year 1988 in athletics. International events African Championships Balkan Games European Indoor Championships Olympic Games World Cross Country Championships World Junior Championships World records Men Carl Lewis finished behind Ben Johnson (9.79) who was disqualified for a failed drugs test 4 × 400 team equalled the record by the United States on October 20, 1968 by Vincent Matthews, Ron Freeman, Larry James and Lee Evans.Women Many observers believe Griffith-Joyner's time of 10.49 should not have been accepted as a record due to excessive following wind Christyakova equalled the previous record of 7.45m with a prior jump Men's Best Year Performers 100 metresMain race this year: Men's Olympic 100 metres200 metresMain race this year: Men's Olympic 200 metres400 metresMain race this year: Men's Olympic 400 metres800 metresMain race this year: Men's Olympic 800 metres1,500 metresMain race this year: Men's Olympic 1,500 metresMile 3,000 metres 5,000 metresMain race this year: Men's Olympic 5,000 metres10,000 metresMain race this year: Men's Olympic 10,000 metresHalf Marathon MarathonMain race this year: Men's Olympic MarathonRace Walking 110m HurdlesMain race this year: Men's Olympic 110m Hurdles400m HurdlesMain race this year: Men's Olympic 400m Hurdles3,000m SteeplechaseMain race this year: Men's Olympic 3,000m SteeplechaseHigh JumpMain competition this year: Men's Olympic High JumpLong JumpMain competition this year: Men's Olympic Long JumpTriple JumpMain competition this year: Men's Olympic Triple JumpDiscusMain competition this year: Men's Olympic Discus ThrowShot PutMain competition this year: Men's Olympic Shot PutHammer Javelin (new design)Main competition this year: Men's Olympic Javelin ThrowPole VaultMain competition this year: Men's Olympic Pole VaultDecathlonMain competition this year: Men's Olympic DecathlonWomen's Best Year PerformersMain race this year: Women's Olympic 100 metres100 metres 200 metresMain race this year: Women's Olympic 200 metres400 metresMain race this year: Women's Olympic 400 metres800 metresMain race this year: Women's Olympic 800 metres1,500 metresMain race this year: Women's Olympic 1,500 metresMile 3,000 metresMain race this year: Women's Olympic 3,000 metres5,000 metres 10,000 metresMain race this year: Women's Olympic 10,000 metresHalf Marathon MarathonMain race this year: Women's Olympic MarathonRace Walking 100m HurdlesMain race this year: Women's Olympic 100m Hurdles400m HurdlesMain race this year: Women's Olympic 400m HurdlesHigh JumpMain competition this year: Women's Olympic High JumpLong JumpMain competition this year: Women's Olympic Long JumpShot PutMain competition this year: Women's Olympic Shot PutDiscus throwMain competition this year: Women's Olympic Discus ThrowJavelin (old design)Main competition this year: Women's Olympic Javelin ThrowHeptathlonMain competition this year: Women's Olympic Heptathlon''