She was selected to run the 3000 m for East Germany at the 1981 European Cup and she delivered her first senior international win in a championship record time of 8:49.61 minutes. The East German women won all but four of their events and were the clear winner of the team title. She was chosen to represent her nation again over that distance at the 1981 IAAF World Cup and she topped the podium, nearly a second clear of future Olympic champion Maricica Puică and world record holder Silvana Cruciata.