400 Metres – W HEATS – first 4 of each heat (Q) plus the 4 fastest times (q) qualified.
Heat 1
27 August 2011 – 20:05
| Position | Lane | Bib | Athlete | Country | Mark | React | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | 532 | Novlene Williams-Mills |  JAM |
51.30 Q | 0.355 | |
| 2 | 5 | 935 | Allyson Felix |  USA |
51.45 Q | 0.171 | |
| 3 | 7 | 479 | Joanne Cuddihy |  IRL |
51.82 Q | (SB) | 0.226 |
| 4 | 3 | 503 | Marta Milani |  ITA |
51.94 Q | (SB) | 0.161 |
| 5 | 1 | 166 | Geisa Aparecida Coutinho |  BRA |
52.15 q | 0.170 | |
| 6 | 2 | 866 | Pinar Saka |  TUR |
53.59 | 0.244 | |
| 7 | 6 | 412 | Graciela Martins |  GBS |
58.22 | (PB) | 0.235 |
| 8 | 4 | 844 | Sandrine Thiébaud-Kangni |  TOG |
59.68 | 0.201 |
Heat 2
27 August 2011 – 20:14
| Position | Lane | Bib | Athlete | Country | Mark | React | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 910 | Antonina Yefremova |  UKR |
51.35 Q | 0.161 | |
| 2 | 7 | 760 | Anastasiya Kapachinskaya |  RUS |
51.43 Q | 0.246 | |
| 3 | 5 | 795 | Ndeye Fatou Soumah |  SEN |
52.23 Q | 0.343 | |
| 4 | 6 | 920 | Jessica Beard | USA |
52.40 Q | 0.337 | |
| 5 | 4 | 461 | Aliann Pompey |  GUY |
53.59 | 0.198 | |
| 6 | 1 | 662 | Tjipekapora Herunga |  NAM |
54.08 | 0.184 | |
| 7 | 2 | 485 | Alaa Hikmat Al-Qaysi |  IRQ |
55.62 | 0.285 |
Heat 3 – revised
27 August 2011 – 20:23
| Position | Lane | Bib | Athlete | Country | Mark | React | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | 529 | Rosemarie Whyte | JAM |
51.38 Q | 0.205 | |
| 2 | 3 | 768 | Antonina Krivoshapka | RUS |
51.52 Q | 0.209 | |
| 3 | 4 | 892 | Nataliya Pyhyda | UKR |
51.67 Q | 0.182 | |
| 4 | 6 | 351 | Fantu Magiso |  ETH |
52.23 Q | 0.449 | |
| 5 | 1 | 1002 | Racheal Nachula |  ZAM |
53.49 q | (SB) | 0.164 |
| 6 | 7 | 275 | Daisurami Bonne |  CUB |
53.69 | 0.219 | |
| 7 | 2 | 194 | Evodie-Lydie Saramandji |  CAF |
1:05.10 | (SB) | 0.208 |
| 5 | 397 | Christine Ohuruogu |  GBR |
DQ | 0.343 |
Heat 4
27 August 2011 – 20:32
| Position | Lane | Bib | Athlete | Country | Mark | React | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 163 | Amantle Montsho |  BOT |
50.95 Q | 0.425 | |
| 2 | 3 | 959 | Francena McCorory | USA |
52.18 Q | 0.488 | |
| 3 | 5 | 395 | Lee McConnell | GBR |
52.75 Q | 0.241 | |
| 4 | 1 | 332 | Maris Mägi |  EST |
52.93 Q | 0.173 | |
| 5 | 4 | 258 | Norma González |  COL |
53.35 q | 0.182 | |
| 6 | 7 | 283 | Aymeé Martínez | CUB |
53.67 | 0.319 | |
| 7 | 6 | 648 | Ambwene Simukonda |  MAW |
54.81 | (NR) | 0.431 |
Heat 5
27 August 2011 – 20:41
| Position | Lane | Bib | Athlete | Country | Mark | React | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 972 | Sanya Richards-Ross | USA |
51.37 Q | 0.181 | |
| 2 | 3 | 531 | Shericka Williams | JAM |
51.66 Q | 0.197 | |
| 3 | 6 | 832 | Moa Hjelmer |  SWE |
52.26 Q | 0.222 | |
| 4 | 2 | 300 | Denisa Rosolová |  CZE |
52.51 Q | 0.238 | |
| 5 | 1 | 407 | Nicola Sanders | GBR |
52.65 q | 0.183 | |
| 6 | 4 | 883 | Kseniya Karandyuk | UKR |
54.10 | 0.169 | |
| 7 | 7 | 700 | Betty Burua |  PNG |
56.98 | 0.252 |
