As it turned out, the final heat was the fastest of the trio, as defending world champ Maryam Jamal of Burundi won it in a comfortable 4:07.04, with American Morgan Uceny third at 4:07.43.
Speaking in the mixed zone afterwards, she said, "I've been feeling so good as of late."
Måkestad knew what she needed to do to advance to Tuesday's semis, thanks to a visual cue.
"My coach in the stands put on a red jacket (before the start of the race), meaning that if I go under 4:10, then I'm through to the next round. I was going to go at either 500 or 300 to go, depending on how I felt."
During the race, she stayed towards the middle of the pack, moving up in the last lap to third exiting the final turn, then cruised to the finish, protecting her position.
"I didn't really push it all the way through, but I felt fine and I'm really looking forward to running on Tuesday, because I haven't run a 1500 since mid-July."
During her career at the University of Washington, Måkestad finished ninth for the Huskies in the Pac 10 cross country championships in 2003, and also won an MPSF title in the mile in 2004.
Måkestad currently holds the Norwegian national record in the 800 at 1:59.82, set last year In Zagreb, and has a personal best of 4:02.20 in the 1500, set last year in Rieti.
Action continues throughout the day at the IAAF world track & field championships, including the finals of the men's 100 meters, where defending world and Olympic champion Usain Bolt of Jamaica will try to go for another world title.
Other finals Sunday evening include the women's long jump, men's 10000, and women's discus.
Monday, Washington State University's three-time NCAA champ and reigning USA and World University Games winner Jeshua Anderson runs in the first round of the 400 hurdles.
Additionally, Marysville native Jarred Rome and former Husky Märt Israel from Estonia will compete in the qualifying round of the men's discus.
Complete day 2 results from the IAAF world track & field championships are available here.
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