Career
She made her breakthrough in the junior ranks in 2004 by winning at the 2004 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and then taking the 5000 m title at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics. She just missed the senior medals in 2005, taking fourth in the short race at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships and also fourth in the 5000 m at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics. She was sixth over that distance at the 2007 World Championships later that year.
She was selected to represent Ethiopia at the 2008 Summer Olympics and finished in eighth place in the event final.
At the 2012 Frankfurt Marathon, her first race over 10 km distance, she stayed in the leading group until the 37th km, when she went away to an impressive debut victory, with a new course record of 2:21:01 hours. She ran a half marathon best of 68:05 minutes at the RAK Half Marathon in February 2013, which brought her seventh place.
1500 metres – 4:07.52 (2007)
Mile run – 4:33.94 (2003)
3000 metres – outdoor - 8:34.73 (2005), indoor - 8:23.74 (2007)
5000 metres – 14:31.91 minimum (2010)
10,000 metres – 29:53.80 minimum (2009)
10 km road – 31:33 minimum (2010)
Half marathon - 68:05 minimum (2013)
Marathon – 2:21:01 hrs (2012).