| 1 | Irina Privalova | RUS | 51,82 | Q |
| 2 | Daniela Georgieva | BUL | 52,34 | Q |
| 3 | Deon Hemmings | JAM | 52,77 | Q |
| 4 | Helena Dziurova | CZE | 53,18 | |
| 5 | Kim Graham | USA | 53,46 | |
| 6 | Sandra Myers | ESP | 53,75 |
| 1 | Sandie Richards | JAM | 52,56 | Q |
| 2 | Jearl Miles | USA | 52,61 | Q |
| 3 | Marie-Louise Bèvis | FRA | 52,85 | Q |
| 4 | Tatyana Chebykina | RUS | 53,13 | |
| 5 | Magdalena Nedelcu | ROM | 53,17 | |
| 6 | Nadia Kostovalova | CZE | 53,38 |