| POS | Rank | Heat | BIB | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | RESULTS | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | USA | United States |  USA | 2:58.96 Q SB | 
| 2 | 2 | 1 | JPN | Japan |  JPN | 3:01.53 Q SB | 
| 3 | 3 | 1 | JAM | Jamaica |  JAM | 3:01.59 Q SB | 
| 4 | 1 | 2 | BEL | Belgium |  BEL | 3:01.96 Q SB | 
| 5 | 2 | 2 | CZE | Czech Republic |  CZE | 3:02.42 Q =NR | 
| 6 | 3 | 2 | POL | Poland |  POL | 3:02.51 Q SB | 
| 7 | 4 | 1 | TTO | Trinidad and Tobago |  TTO | 3:02.75 q SB | 
| 8 | 4 | 2 | FRA | France |  FRA | 3:03.13 q SB | 
| 9 | 5 | 1 | NED | Netherlands |  NED | 3:03.14 SB | 
| 10 | 5 | 2 | ITA | Italy |  ITA | 3:03.43 SB | 
| 11 | 6 | 2 | GER | Germany |  GER | 3:04.21 | 
| 12 | 6 | 1 | IND | India |  IND | 3:07.29 | 
| 13 | 7 | 2 | BOT | Botswana |  BOT | 3:07.32 qR | 
| 1 | RSA | South Africa |  RSA | DNS | ||
| 2 | DOM | Dominican Republic |  DOM | DNS |