Her first international title came at the 1975 European Athletics Junior Championships, where she defeated Loa Olafsson and future Olympic champion Gabriella Dorio to win the 1500 m gold medal.

She began by winning her first national title at the East German Indoor Athletics Championships in the 1500 m.[4] She extended her success outdoors with a win at the East German Athletics Championships where she became the first and only woman ever to run under four minutes for the 1500 m at that competition.

[7] 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.

[8] 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.