This article contains an overview of the year 1987 in athletics. International Events All-Africa Games Asian Championships Central American and Caribbean Championships European Indoor Championships Mediterranean Games Pan American Games World Championships World Indoor Championships World Cross Country Championships World Student Games World records Men Carl Lewis (USA) equalled the world record in the men's 100 metres held by countryman Calvin Smith since 1983-07-03, clocking 9.93 seconds on 1987-08-30 at the World Championships in Rome, Italy. Women Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) equalled the world record in the women's long jump held by East Germany's Heike Drechsler since 1986-06-21, jumping 7.45 metres on 1987-08-13 at a meet in Indianapolis. Men's Best Year Performers 100 metres Main race this year: World Championships 100 metres 200 metres Main race this year: World Championships 200 metres 400 metres Main race this year: World Championships 400 metres 800 metres Main race this year: World Championships 800 metres 1,500 metres Main race this year: World Championships 1.500 metres Mile 3,000 metres 5,000 metres Main race this year: World Championships 5.000 metres 10,000 metres Main race this year: World Championships 10.000 metres Half Marathon Marathon Main race this year: World Championships Marathon 110m Hurdles Main race this year: World Championships 110m Hurdles 400m Hurdles Main race this year: World Championships 400m Hurdles 3,000m Steeplechase Main race this year: World Championships 3.000m Steeplechase High Jump Main competition this year: World Championships High Jump Long Jump Main competition this year: World Championships Long Jump Triple Jump Main competition this year: World Championships Triple Jump Discus Main competition this year: World Championships Discus Throw Shot Put Main competition this year: World Championships Shot Put Hammer Javelin (new design) Main competition this year: World Championships Javelin Throw Pole Vault Main competition this year: World Championships Pole Vault Decathlon Main competition this year: World Championships Decathlon Women's Best Year Performers 100 metres 200 metres 400 metres 800 metres 1,500 metres Mile 3,000 metres 5,000 metres 10,000 metres Half Marathon Marathon 100m Hurdles 400m Hurdles High Jump Long Jump Shot Put Javelin (old design) Heptathlon Births January 1 — Rytis Sakalauskas, Lithuanian sprinter January 17 — Svetlana Radzivil, Uzbekistani high jumper January 27 — Liliya Kulyk, Ukrainian triple jumper March 5 — Vitalij Kozlov, Lithuanian middle distance runner April 17 — Atsede Baysa, Ethiopian long-distance runner April 24 — Franklin Nazareno, Ecuadorian sprinter July 14 — Margus Hunt, Estonian discus thrower July 22 —