Parker was a member of the Essex Ladies Athletics club (now Woodford Green with Essex Ladies). In 1983, she won the AAAs National Under 17 title in the 400 m hurdles, running 62.37. Her senior breakthrough came in 1990 when she finished second at the AAA Championships in 57.43, behind Gowry Retchakan's 57.14. This performance earned her selection for the European Championships in Split, where she ran 56.84 in her heat to reach the semi-finals. In her semi-final she ran 57.06, failing to reach the final.