In the following year at the 2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships she finished tenth and took the gold medal in the team competition with Ethiopia. She returned to the World Half Marathon Championships in 2003, but did not repeat her medal success, finishing in 21st place and fourth overall with the women's team.
In the following year at the 2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, she secured tenth place and won gold for Ethiopia in the team competition. In 2003, she competed in the World Half Marathon Championships but did not repeat her medal performance; she finished twenty-first overall and fourth with the women's team.