1997 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 5000 metres Results First round

| Heat | Rank_ | Name_ | Result_ | Notes_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | Kate Anderson (AUS) | 15:36.16 q |  |
| 1 | 16 | Yelena Kopytova (RUS) | 15:37.19 | PB |
| 2 | 17 | Sonia O`Sullivan (IRL) | 15:40.82 |  |
| 2 | 18 | Stela Olteanu (ROU) | 15:40.86 |  |
| 1 | 19 | Adriana Fernandez (MEX) | 15:41.55 |  |
| 2 | 20 | Olivera Jevtić (YUG) | 15:43.76 |  |
| 1 | 21 | Melody Fairchild (USA) | 15:47.66 |  |
| 2 | 22 | Chrystosomia Iakovou (GRE) | 15:51.14 |  |
| 1 | 23 | Marina Bastos (POR) | 15:54.01 |  |
| 2 | 24 | Restituta Joseph (TAN) | 15:55.22 | NR |
| 1 | 25 | Valerie Vaughan (IRL) | 15:57.58 |  |
| 1 | 26 | Zohra Ouaziz (MAR) | 15:58.84 |  |
| 2 | 27 | Amy Rudolph (USA) | 16:00.87 |  |
| 1 | 28 | Genet Gebregiorgis (ETH) | 16:04.40 | SB |
| 1 | 29 | Laurence Duquenoy (FRA) | 16:06.02 |  |
| 2 | 30 | Una English (IRL) | 16:07.09 |  |
| 2 | 31 | Jelena Chelnova (LAT) | 16:27.63 |  |