| Final | time | | | 1. Merlene Ottey |  JAM | 22.34s | | | 2. Grace Jackson | JAM | 22.95s | | | 3. Natalya Kovzun |  URS | 23.28s | | | 4. Silke Knoll |  FRG | 23.30s | | | 5. Maria Figueiredo |  BRA | 23.83s | | | 6. Marie José Perec |  FRA | 23.99s | |
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| | | First 3 advanced to Final |
| Semi 1 | time | | | 1. Merlene Ottey | JAM | 22.72s | Q | | | 2. Natalya Kovzun | URS | 23.38s | Q | | | 3. Maria Figueiredo | BRA | 23.71s | Q | | | 4. Terry Dendy |  USA | 23.75s | | | | 5. Krasimira Ilyeva |  BUL | 23.98s | | | | 6. Sabine Tröger |  AUT | 24.24s | | |
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| Semi 2 | time | | | 1. Grace Jackson | JAM | 23.05s | Q | | | 2. Silke Knoll | FRG | 23.26s | Q | | | 3. Marie-José Perec | FRA | 23.36s | Q | | | 4. Sisko Hanhijoki |  FIN | 23.94s | | | | 5. Agnes Kozary |  HUN | 24.37s | | | | -. Alice Jackson | USA | DQ | | |
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| Heat 1 | time | | | 1. Grace Jackson | JAM | 23.86s | Q | | | 2. Alice Jackson | USA | 23.97s | Q | | | 3. Krasimira Ilyeva | BUL | 24.03s | q | | | 4. Sisko Hanhijoki | FIN | 24.04s | q | |
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| Heat 2 | time | | | 1. Merlene Ottey | JAM | 23.27s | Q | | | 2. Natalya Kovzun | URS | 23.84s | Q | | | 3. Sabine Tröger | AUT | 24.04s | q | | | 4. Agnes Kozary | HUN | 24.18s | q | | | 5. Kinah Chikontwe |  ZAM | 27.32s | | |
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| Heat 3 | time | | | 1. Silke Knoll | FRG | 23.50s | Q | | | 2. Marie-José Perec | FRA | 23.73s | Q | | | 3. Maria Figueiredo | BRA | 23.81s | q | | | 4. Terry Dendy | USA | 24.18s | q | | | 5. Elma Muros |  PHI | 25.05s | | | | 6. Orit Kolodni |  ISR | 25.35s | | |
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