Athletics at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics
Athletics at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics was held from 11 to 16 October. The events took place at the Parque Polideportivo Roca in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
For the first time, every athletics' event featured 2 stages – 2 separate competitions, both of their results were added together to conclude final standings.
Qualification
Each National Olympic Committee can enter a maximum of 36 athletes, 18 per each gender and 1 per each event. In total, 680 athletes will compete at the Youth Olympics with continental qualification events deciding the majority of athletes. The distribution of quotas was decided based on the results from the 2015 World Youth Championships and 2017 World Youth Championships. As hosts, Argentina is given 4 quotas, 2 per each gender and universality places will be given to nations whom did not qualify an athlete with a maximum of 1 boy or girl per nation. These quotas will be subtracted from that nation's continental quota in the relevant event. All athletes qualified in the 1500 m, 3000 m and 2000 m steeplechase will compete their Stage 2 event in the cross country run.To be eligible to participate at the Youth Olympics athletes must have been born between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2002.
Qualification timeline
| Event | Location | Date |
| 2015 World Youth Championships |  Cali | 15–19 July 2015 |
| 2017 World Youth Championships |  Nairobi | 12–16 July 2017 |
| 2018 Melanesian Championship |  Port Vila | 9–11 May 2018 |
| 2018 Asian Youth Olympic Qualifying Meet |  Bangkok | 4–5 July 2018 |
| 2018 European U18 Championship |  Győr | 5–8 July 2018 |
| 2018 African Youth Games |  Algiers | 19–28 July 2018 |
- The Americas Youth Olympic trials were scheduled to be held in Nicaragua but were cancelled due to civil unrest in the country. Rankings will determine who competes from the continent.
Quota distribution
| Event | Africa | Americas | Asia | Europe | Oceania | Total |
| 100m | 5 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 32 |
| 200m | 3 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 24 |
| 400m | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 24 |
| 800m | 8 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 24 |
| 1500m | 7 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 18 |
| 3000m | 6 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 18 |
| 110m Hurdles | 2 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 22 |
| 400m Hurdles | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| 2000m Steeplechase | 6 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 18 |
| High Jump | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 16 |
| Pole Vault | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 16 |
| Long Jump | 1 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 16 |
| Triple Jump | 2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| Shot Put | 2 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 16 |
| Discus Throw | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 16 |
| Hammer Throw | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 16 |
| Javelin Throw | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 16 |
| 5000m Race Walk | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 16 |
| Total | 57 | 88 | 57 | 119 | 19 | 340 |
;Girls
| Event | Africa | Americas | Asia | Europe | Oceania | Total |
| 100m | 3 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 32 |
| 200m | 1 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 24 |
| 400m | 3 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 24 |
| 800m | 5 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 24 |
| 1500m | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 18 |
| 3000m | 8 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 18 |
| 100m Hurdles | 1 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 22 |
| 400m Hurdles | 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 16 |
| 2000m Steeplechase | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 18 |
| High Jump | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 16 |
| Pole Vault | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 16 |
| Long Jump | 1 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 16 |
| Triple Jump | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 16 |
| Shot Put | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 16 |
| Discus Throw | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 16 |
| Hammer Throw | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 16 |
| Javelin Throw | 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 16 |
| 5000m Race Walk | 2 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 16 |
| Total | 43 | 85 | 32 | 162 | 18 | 340 |
Schedule
The schedule was released by the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee.| Q | Stage 1 | H | Stage 1 | F | Stage 2 | C | Cross country run |