1978 in the sport of athletics

In 1978, the foremost international competitions in the sport of athletics were the 1978 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and the 1978 European Athletics Championships. High-profile athletics competitions were also held at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, the 1978 All-Africa Games and the 1978 Asian Games.

Among the most prominent athletes that year was Kenya's Henry Rono who, in the space of 81 days, broke four world records: the 10,000 m (27:22.5), the 5000 m (13:08.4), the 3000 m steeplechase (8:05.4), and the 3000 m (7:32.1). In the course of the season East German Marita Koch also broke a world record four times, running 22.06 for the 200 m and breaking the 400 m three times, concluding the run with a time of 48.94 to win the European title.

World

 * World Cross Country Championships
 * 1978 World Military Track and Field Championships
 * 1978 Commonwealth Games

Regional

 * 1978 All-Africa Games
 * 1978 Asian Games
 * 1978 Balkan Athletics Championships
 * 1978 CARIFTA Games
 * 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games
 * 1978 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics
 * 1978 European Athletics Championships
 * 1978 European Athletics Indoor Championships
 * 1978 European Champion Clubs Cup
 * 1978 South American Junior Championships in Athletics
 * 1978 South American Youth Championships in Athletics
 * 1978 Southern Cross Games

National

 * 1978 Italian Athletics Championships
 * 1978 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships
 * 1978 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships
 * 1978 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
 * 1978 UK Athletics Championships
 * 1978 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
 * 1978 USA–USSR Track and Field Dual Meet

Marathons

 * 1978 Avon International Marathon
 * 1978 Berlin Marathon
 * 1978 Chicago Marathon
 * 1978 New York City Marathon