Born in Sandton, South Africa, her first major win came at the Zevenheuvelenloop in 2002, where at the age of fifteen she won the high-profile 15K race while on holiday in the Netherlands. In 2003, she won the national junior title over 1500 metres and set a personal best of 4:17.49 minutes. She competed three times in the junior race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, coming 18th in 2002, 16th in 2003, and 26th in 2005.