| POS | Rank | Heat | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | RESULTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | Bahamas |
BAH |
2:58.87 Q SB |
| 1 | 2 | 2 | United States |
USA |
2:58.87 Q SB |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | Great Britain & NI |
GBR |
3:00.38 Q SB |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Trinidad and Tobago |
TTO |
3:00.38 Q NR |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | Cuba |
CUB |
3:00.55 Q |
| 6 | 4 | 1 | Belgium |
BEL |
3:01.70 q |
| 7 | 3 | 2 | Venezuela |
VEN |
3:02.62 q |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | Poland |
POL |
3:02.86 |
| 9 | 4 | 2 | Australia |
AUS |
3:03.17 |
| 10 | 6 | 1 | Germany |
GER |
3:03.50 |
| 11 | 5 | 2 | Japan |
JPN |
3:03.86 |
| 2 | Dominican Republic |
DOM |
DQ | ||
| 1 | Kenya |
KEN |
DQ | ||
| 2 | Russia |
RUS |
DQ | ||
| 2 | Jamaica |
JAM |
DNF | ||
| 1 | South Africa |
RSA |
DNF |