Born in Sendafa in Ethiopia's Oromia Region, Meseret began her road running career in 2008. She was runner-up at the Marseille-Cassis Classique Internationale that year and returned to win a year after. She began to establish herself as an elite runner in the 2009 season with wins at the Crazy 8s 8K Run and Wharf to Wharf Race and a runner-up finish at the Peachtree Road Race. The half marathon proved to be her best event, as she came third at the Virginia Beach Half Marathon before winning the Reims Half Marathon in a best of 69:45 minutes. Still a junior that year, she also ran at the 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and placed ninth in the junior race.