| Final 16:35 | time | | 1. Ravilya Agletdinova | URS | 4:01.19 | | 2. Tatiana Samolenko | URS | 4:02 36 | | 3. Doina Melinte | ROU | 4:02.44 | | 4. Ivana Walterova | TCH | 4:03.09 | | 5. Maricica Puica | ROU | 4:03.90 | | 6. Svetlana Kitova | URS | 4:04.74 | | 7. Kirsty Wade | GBR | 4:04.99 | | 8. Cornelia Buerki | SUI | 4:05.31 | | 9. Zola Budd | GBR | 4:05.32 | | 10.Nikolina Schtereva | BUL | 4:06.31 | | 11.Elly Van Hulst | NED | 4:06.72 | | 12.Heike Oehme | GDR | 4:08.61 |
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| Heat 1 | time | | 1. Tatiana Samolenko | URS | 4.06.70. | | 2. Ivana Walterova | TCH | 4.06.75. | | 3. Zola Budd | GBR | 4.06.83. | | 4. Cornelia Buerki | SUI | 4.06.86. | | 5. Maricica Puica | ROU | 4.06.87. | | 6. Christina Boxer | GBR | 4.07.74. | | 7. Paula Ivan | ROU | 4.10.64. | | 8. Annette Sergent | FRA | 4.11.32. | | 9. Snezana Pajkic | YUG | 4.13.76. | | 10.Corinne Debaets | BEL | 4.14.97. |
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| Heat 2 | time | | 1. Ravilya Agletdinova | URS | 4.06 72. | | 2. Kirsty Wade | GBR | 4.06.74. | | 3. Doina Melinte | ROU | 4.06.78. | | 4. Svetlana Kitova | URS | 4.06.80. | | 5. Nikolina Schetreva | BUL | 4.06.94. | | 6. Heike Oehme | GDR | 4.07.16. | | 7. Elly Van Hulst | NED | 4.07.21. | | 8. Vera Michallek | FRG | 4.07.52. | | 9. Andri Avraam | CYP | 4.15.20. | | 10.Roberta Brunet | ITA | 4.15.76. |
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