What are some common knee injuries to track and field athletes?

The most common running injury to people who run a lot is runner鈥檚 knee. You have pain behind the knee cap during running and when you press your knee cap against the bone behind it. You can keep the knee cap from rubbing by
wearing , special inserts in your shoes, and strengthening exercises so that the muscle pulls your knee cap inwards.
Another injury people talk about a lot is shin splints. What are "shin splints" I hear you ask? Well, it can mean anything from tendinitis to stress fractures. The correct name is "Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome" (MTSS). You often have a dull ache in both legs which becomes worse when you are running. You may have swelling around the lower leg and ankle. If you only have pain and swelling in one leg you might have a tibial stress fracture (microscopic fractures in the bone caused by overuse). You will have to reduce the amount of running and apply ice for 20 minutes after exercise 2-3 times a day. Sometimes athletes will tape their shins for support and this also helps the swelling go down. An anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen may help the pain. To help prevent shin splints you should do exercises that help strengthen the lower leg. Tears of the knee are slight because there is not a ton of twisting and torquing while running.

Prevention
Wear proper running shoes
Make sure you stretch and warm up before running
Do not run on icy or uneven surfaces
If you run in the dark make sure you can be seen
If something hurts stop running and rest
Drink plenty of fluids, don鈥檛 become dehydrated.

Only one I know of (and thats through my ignorance, not through lack of injury) is a Miniscus Tear.

Basically the miniscus which is kind of a sponge in your knee cap tears, causing some discomfort and pain. It can either be removed or some professionals are able to repair the damage.

I tore my anterior cruciate ligament and my meniscal cartilages just running and mistepping once twisting my knee badly

You can get what they call runners knee. It's from overuse or just a compensation of the another leg. You can go to Runners World and check it out on their website. They have a preventive injury site as well of where it hurts site.

Foot injuries can include ligament strains, stress fractures, heel bruises, and bursitis.