She made her Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, running in the 10,000 metres. That year she had been the bronze medallist in the event at the 2000 African Championships in Athletics. She made the top twenty in the short race at every IAAF World Cross Country Championships from 2002 to 2006. She also began to compete in the 3000 metres steeplechase and became continental champion with a gold medal victory at the 2004 African Championships in Athletics.