Born in Windsor, Berkshire, she began competing for Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletic Club around the age of thirteen. She also practised ballet, achieving UK grade five. She won her first national youth titles in 2006, winning the 3000 metres at the AAA under-17 championships and the UK School Games, as well as the English under-fifteens cross country title. She quickly progressed to international competition and came fifteenth in the junior section of the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – the best European performer in the race. She was the youngest runner in the 5000 metres field at the 2007 European Athletics Junior Championships and finished in tenth place. She won the UK junior trials for the 2007 European Cross Country Championships and went on to take the individual bronze medal and team gold medal at the championships, which she shared with fellow British junior Steph Twell.