2011 in the sport of athletics
In 2011, the foremost athletics event was the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu. The other major global level competition held in 2011 was the World Cross Country Championships.
Australia's Sally Pearson was the women's IAAF Athlete of the Year.
The 2008 Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru died in May.
2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships took place on March 20, 2011. The races were held at the Polideportivo Antonio Gil Hernández in Punta Umbría, Spain. Reports of the event were given for the IAAF.
The 2010 champion Joseph Ebuya was not selected to defend his men's crown.