th - place ▁finish ▁in ▁the ▁World ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships ▁she ▁ran ▁inf re qu ently ▁and ▁only ▁returned ▁to ▁competition ▁in ▁mid - 2 0 0 7 . ▁ ▁Be ij ing ▁Olympics ▁and ▁impro ving ▁times ▁Monte iro ▁showed ▁much ▁improvement ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁season . ▁She ▁ran ▁her ▁fast est ▁ever ▁time ▁at ▁the ▁World ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships ▁( 2 7 : 1 2 ) ▁and ▁took ▁fifth ▁place ▁at ▁the ▁Rot ter dam ▁Mar athon ▁– ▁her ▁first ▁compet itive ▁out ing ▁over ▁the ▁distance . ▁She ▁qualified ▁to ▁represent ▁Portugal ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁Be ij ing ▁Olympics ▁but ▁she ▁did ▁not ▁manage ▁to ▁finish ▁the ▁Olympic ▁mar athon ▁race . ▁She ▁closed ▁the ▁year ▁on ▁a ▁positive ▁note , ▁however , ▁winning ▁the ▁O var ▁Half ▁Mar athon ▁for ▁a ▁fourth ▁time , ▁and ▁taking ▁individual ▁bronze ▁and ▁team ▁gold ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁European ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships . ▁She ▁closed ▁the ▁season ▁by ▁be ating ▁Olympic ▁silver ▁med all ist ▁E un ice ▁J ep kor ir ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁Cross ▁Internacional ▁de ▁V enta ▁de ▁B añ os . ▁ ▁She ▁became ▁the ▁national ▁cross ▁country ▁champion ▁in ▁March ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁but ▁failed ▁to ▁finish ▁at ▁the ▁World ▁Championships ▁in ▁Am man . ▁She ▁performed ▁strongly ▁at ▁the ▁European ▁track ▁events , ▁winning ▁the ▁ 1 0 , 0 0 0   m ▁cup ▁with ▁a ▁personal ▁best ▁and ▁taking ▁the