After the Olympics, she visited Zurich to beat star-studded field over 3000 m. She finished third at the 1985 European Cup and then won the gold over 3000 m at the World Cup in Canberra. During 1985, she lowered her one-mile PB to 4:21.59min at the Weltklasse meet, finishing fourth behind Mary Decker's world record of 4:16.70min. Bruns extended her medal haul in 1986, contesting new major distance for women, 10000 m, at the European Championships in Stuttgart and again won the bronze medal in 31:19.76min, losing only to long-distance legends, Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway) and Olga Bondarenko (Soviet Union). Bruns represented East Germany at many European Cup finals, but did not win any until 1987 in Prague where she was victorious at 3000 m. She confirmed her smooth form later that summer at the second World Championships in Rome, taking the bronze in the 3000 m final and winning her final international medal.