There were three preliminary heats overall and the first three in each heat qualify to round one, along with the athlete who posts the next fastest time.
Kukho izigaba zogqatso ezohlulwe kathathu kwaye abokuqala abathathu kwisigaba ngasinye baphumelela kwisigaba sokuqala, kunye nembaleki ebeka ixesha elilandelayo ngokukhawuleza.