In the early 1970s, Walker attended the University of Oregon where she received instruction from the legendary Steve Prefontaine. After Prefontaine's death, she lived in his house with his girlfriend and sister. Walker represented the United States in the 1972 International Cross Country Championships, where she placed 9th winning silver with the US team, and the 1973 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, winning team bronze with an individual 30th place, and was an All-American in cross country in 1973. From 1972 to 1978, she won Oregon Road Runners Club women’s aquathlon, a biathlon consisting of running and swimming, six consecutive times. In 1981, Walker returned to college at Oregon State University where she was briefly coached by Joe Fulton. There she would set a school records in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. Walker was also the Oregon state triathlon champion in 1984, 1986, and 1987. Injuries and the nature of her cross country training schedule prevented her from running another marathon. For her achievements, Walker was inducted into the Portland Interscholastic League's Hall of Fame in 2005.