| Athletics at the X Summer Universiade | |
|---|---|
 The host stadium for the events | |
| Dates | 8–13 September 1979 |
| Host city | Mexico City, Mexico  |
| Venue | Estadio Olimpico Universitario |
| Level | University |
| Events | 34 |
| Records set | 1 WR, 12 UR |
Athletics events were contested at the 1979 Summer Universiade in Mexico City, Mexico between 8 and 13 September. The top nations qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, USSR.