| 1 | Sally Gunnell | GBR | 52,92 | Q |
| 2 | Iolanda Oanta | ROM | 53,27 | q |
| 3 | Judith Forgacs | HUN | 53,30 | q |
| 4 | Cristina Perez | ESP | 54,53 |
| 1 | Angela Piggford | GBR | 54,01 | Q |
| 2 | Noemi Batori | HUN | 54,35 | |
| 3 | Irmgard Trojer | ITA | 54,90 | |
| 4 | Marina Vasarmidou | GRE | 55,38 |
| 1 | Marina Shmonina | URS | 52,53 | Q |
| 2 | Linda Kisabaka | FRG | 53,41 | |
| 3 | Linda Keough | GBR | 53,74 |