| Athletics at the XV CAC Games | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 29 June – 4 July |
| Host city |  Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic |
| Venue | Estadio La Barranquita |
| Events | 43 |
| Records set | 19 GR |
The athletics competition in the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
It was the first time that women's 10,000 metres, marathon and racewalking events were held.