The athletics events at the 2010 South American Games (Spanish: IX Juegos Suramericanos) were held from March 20–23 at the Alfonso Galvis Duque Stadium in Medellín, Colombia.

Ana Cláudia Lemos Silva provided one of the highlights of the competition, equalling the South American record in the women's 100 metres with a run of 11.17 seconds.

[1] Two Colombian athletes also set new championships and Games records in their events: María Lucelly Murillo set new best marks of 56.08 m in the women's discus throw and Rafith Rodríguez won in Colombian record time in the 800 metres (1:47.20).

[1] The 10,000 m gold medallist and 5000 m runner-up Karina Alvarez of Peru was stripped of her medals after failing a drugs test for cocaine.

[2] Bolivian 400 m runner Alison Mariana Delfin – who helped win a relay bronze medal – was also later disqualified and banned for two years due to a doping offence.