She started out as an 800 and 1500 metres runner. She ran in the latter event at the 2005 World Youth Championships in Athletics and won the bronze medal, setting a personal best of 4:19.34 minutes. At the 2005 African Junior Athletics Championships, she came fifth over 800 m and was the silver medallist in the 1500 m. She made her first international cross country appearance two years later, finishing in 14th place in the junior race at the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, helping the Ethiopian girls team to a bronze medal alongside Sule Utura, Genzebe Dibaba and Abebu Gelan.