| Athletics at the III South American Games | |
|---|---|
 National Stadium in Santiago, Chile | |
| Dates | 3–6 December |
| Host city | Santiago, Chile  |
| Venue | Estadio Nacional |
| Level | Senior |
| Events | 40 (23 men, 17 women) |
Athletics events at the 1986 South American Games were held at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile.[1] A total of 40 events were contested, 23 by men and 17 by women.
- ^ SANTIAGO 86, CHILE, III JUEGOS SUDAMERICANOS, Fecha de apertura: 28 de noviembre de 1986, Fecha de clausura: 8 de diciembre de 1986 (in Spanish), ODESUR, archived from the original on March 15, 2014, retrieved June 10, 2012