Born in Potsdam, her first success came at the 1996 World Junior Championships in Athletics where she was the narrow runner-up in the 800 metres behind compatriot Claudia Gesell. After this, she began to improve her times in the 1999 season, recording a best of 2:02.18 for the 800 m and placing second at the German Indoor Athletics Championships. She ran a 1500 metres best of 4:11.61 in June, but failed to finish that distance at the 1999 European Athletics U23 Championships final.