Born in Arsi in Ethiopia's Oromia Region, she started her career as a cross country runner. In 1994 she won a silver medal as part of the Ethiopian women's team at the IAAF World Road Relay Championships. She also won a team silver medal at the 1994 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, through a 19th-place finish in the long race. She was selected for the national team at the 1996 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, but came 43rd overall on that occasion. In 1998 she helped the Ethiopian women to the gold medals at the World Relay Championships, came 36th at the 1998 World Cross Country, and was 19th at the 1998 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.