Athletics at the 1998 South American Games

Athletics events at the 1998 South American Games were held at the Coliseo Mayor de Deportes Jefferson Pérez next to the Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar in Cuenca, Ecuador, between October 26–30, 1998. A total of 45 events were contested, 24 by men and 21 by women. Brazil and Venezuela did not participate in the athletics events.

For the first time, a minimum participation of 4 nations per event was required to award a full set of medals. Men's triple jump and women's 4 x 400 m relay events were concerned, where athletes coming in third did not get bronze medals. Women's marathon was completely cancelled, because there would have been only athletes from host country Ecuador.