She had a highly successful cross country season in 1997, taking a series of high-profile circuit wins including the Antrim International Cross Country, Cross Zornotza, Cross de San Sebastián, Cross Internacional de Itálica, Eurocross, and Almond Blossom Cross Country. These performances helped rank her in second place on that year's IAAF World Cross Challenge, behind winner Gete Wami. The thirty-six-year-old also had one of her highest placings at the 1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, coming twelfth in the women's long race. She ended the year with a silver medal at the 1997 European Cross Country Championships, leading Romania to second place in the team rankings.