| Pos | Rank | Heat | Bib | Athlete | Mark | Details | Reaction Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3 | 1984 | USA | 53.81  | Q | 0.170 | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 1989 | USA | 53.91  | Q | 0.167 | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 1178 | JAM | 54.17  | Q | 0.148 | |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 421 | CAN | 54.32 NR | Q | 0.183 | |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | 594 | CZE | 54.41  | Q | 0.162 | |
| 6 | 3 | 2 | 2006 | USA | 54.42  | q | 0.171 | |
| 7 | 3 | 1 | 1841 | UKR | 54.45 SB | q | 0.171 | |
| 8 | 2 | 3 | 1689 | SUI | 54.52 SB | Q | 0.191 | |
| 9 | 4 | 1 | 571 | CUB | 55.03  | 0.216 | ||
| 10 | 4 | 2 | 1494 | NOR | 55.03  | 0.151 | ||
| 11 | 3 | 3 | 1188 | JAM | 55.16 PB | 0.186 | ||
| 12 | 5 | 1 | 255 | BEL | 55.25 SB | 0.159 | ||
| 13 | 5 | 2 | 1125 | ITA | 55.36  | 0.198 | ||
| 14 | 6 | 2 | 1555 | POL | 55.38 SB | 0.166 | ||
| 15 | 4 | 3 | 1141 | ITA | 55.40 SB | 0.208 | ||
| 16 | 7 | 2 | 193 | AUS | 55.43 PB | 0.167 | ||
| 17 | 5 | 3 | 373 | BRN | 55.54  | 0.210 | ||
| 18 | 6 | 1 | 131 | ANA | 55.57  | 0.246 | ||
| 19 | 6 | 3 | 1514 | PAN | 55.61 SB | 0.223 | ||
| 20 | 7 | 3 | 866 | GBR | 55.87  | 0.189 | ||
| 21 | 8 | 3 | 178 | AUS | 55.94  | 0.173 | ||
| 22 | 7 | 1 | 1433 | NED | 56.37  | 0.219 | ||
| 23 | 8 | 2 | 954 | GER | 56.41  | 0.191 | ||
| 24 | 8 | 1 | 856 | GBR | 56.89  | 0.173 |