| 1 | Christa Rothenburger (Senior) | GDR | 39.45 | TR | - |
| 2 | Karin Kania-Enke (Senior) | GDR | 40.12 | | +0.670 |
| 3 | Bonnie Blair (Senior) | USA | 40.16 | | +0.710 |
| 4 | Angela Stahnke (Neo) | GDR | 40.70 | | +1.250 |
| 5 | Christine Aaftink (Neo) | NED | 41.26 | | +1.810 |
| 6 | Irina Kulesjova-Kovrova (Senior) | URS | 41.30 | SB | +1.850 |
| 7 | Edel Therese Høiseth (Neo) | NOR | 41.37 | | +1.920 |
| 8 | Monika Gawenus-Pflug (M30) | FRG | 41.44 | | +1.990 |
| 9 | Zofia Tokarczyk (Senior) | POL | 41.56 | | +2.110 |
| 10 | Natalja Sjive-Glebova (Senior) | URS | 41.63 | | +2.180 |
| 11 | Tatjana Denisova (Senior) | URS | 41.93 | | +2.480 |
| 12 | Katie Class (Senior) | USA | 42.30 | | +2.850 |
| 13 | Tatjana Kabutova (Neo) | URS | 42.35 | | +2.900 |
| 14 | Leslie Bader (Senior) | USA | 42.57 | | +3.120 |
| 15 | Peggy Clasen (A2) | USA | 42.71 | | +3.260 |
| 16 | Marina Jevgrafova (Neo) | URS | 42.72 | | +3.270 |
| 17 | Anette Hammarin (Neo) | SWE | 43.11 | | +3.660 |
| 18 | Nancy Swider-Peltz (M30) | USA | 43.18 | | +3.730 |
| 19 | Janet Goldman (Neo) | USA | 43.67 | SB | +4.220 |
| 20 | Tone Regine Staubo-Hølstad (Neo) | NOR | 43.78 | PB | +4.330 |
| 21 | Isabelle Broise (Neo) | FRA | 44.44 | PB | +4.990 |
| 22 | Lena.61 Andersson (Senior) | SWE | 46.06 | SB | +6.610 |