The women's 10,000 metres event featured at the 1997 World Championships in Athens, Greece. There were a total number of 34 participating athletes, with two qualifying heats on 2 August and the final being held on 5 August 1997.
Results edit
Heats edit
First 8 of each Heat (Q) and the next 4 fastest (q) qualified for the Final.
Final edit
| Rank | Name | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
 Sally Barsosio (KEN)
|
31:32.92 |
|
 Fernanda Ribeiro (POR)
|
31:39.15 |
|
 Masako Chiba (JPN)
|
31:41.93 |
| 4. |  Berhane Adere (ETH)
|
31:48.95 |
| 5. |  Ren Xiujuan (CHN)
|
31:50.63 |
| 6. | Tegla Loroupe (KEN)
|
32:00.93 |
| 7. | Yang Siju (CHN)
|
32:01.61 |
| 8. |  Colleen De Reuck (RSA)
|
32:03.81 |
| 9. |  Silvia Sommaggio (ITA)
|
32:16.92 |
| 10. | Chiemi Takahashi (JPN)
|
32:23.61 |
| 11. |  Nora Rocha (MEX)
|
32:34.58 |
| 12. |  Julia Vaquero (ESP)
|
32:36.91 |
| 13. |  Annette Peters (USA)
|
32:43.38 |
| 14. |  Chantal Dallenbach (FRA)
|
32:51.20 |
| 15. |  Annemari Sandell (FIN)
|
33:00.11 |
| 16. | Hiromi Masuda (JPN)
|
33:03.14 |
| 17. | Elana Meyer (RSA)
|
33:05.82 |
| — |  Marleen Renders (BEL)
|
DNF |
| — | Zahia Dahmani (FRA)
|
DNF |
| — | Gete Wami (ETH)
|
DNF |