Thorpe achieved her lifetime best of 2:01.86 at the 1987 London grand prix event on 10 July at the Crystal Palace, and finished third at the 1987 AAA Championships behind Edwards and Purvis in 2:04.61. At the 1988 AAA Championships/Olympic trials, she finished third in 2:03.06 behind Kirsty Wade and Shireen Bailey. She went on to reach the semifinals at the 1990 European Indoor Championships and to win the 800m title at the 1990 UK Championships in 2:05.52.