Born in Kericho, she took up running from a young age and made her first appearance at the Kenyan Athletics Championships at age 14. She was encouraged to take up the sport by her uncle, Johnstone Simotwo, who was a middle-distance runner seven years her senior. Focusing on middle-distance and the steeplechase, she made her international debut at the 2013 African Youth Athletics Championships, placing fifth in the 800 metres and taking a silver medal in the 1500 metres. She gradually moved up the national rankings, with third over 1500 m at the Kenyan under-20 championships in 2014, then runner-up the following year, which led to selection and a fourth-place finish at the 2015 African Junior Athletics Championships.