| 1 | Grace Jackson | JAM | 23,86 | Q |
| 2 | Alice Jackson | USA | 23,97 | Q |
| 3 | Krasimira Ilyeva | BUL | 24,03 | q |
| 4 | Sisko Hanhijoki | FIN | 24,04 | q |
| 1 | Merlene Ottey | JAM | 23,27 | Q |
| 2 | Natalya Kovzun | URS | 23,84 | Q |
| 3 | Sabine Tröger | AUT | 24,04 | q |
| 4 | Agnes Kozary | HUN | 24,18 | q |
| 5 | Kinah Chikontwe | ZAM | 27,32 |
| 1 | Silke Knoll | FRG | 23,50 | Q |
| 2 | Marie-José Perec | FRA | 23,73 | Q |
| 3 | Maria Figueiredo | BRA | 23,81 | q |
| 4 | Terry Dendy | USA | 24,18 | q |
| 5 | Elma Muros | PHI | 25,05 | |
| 6 | Orit Kolodni | ISR | 25,35 |