▁first ▁experienced ▁success ▁in ▁professional ▁athlet ics ▁at ▁cross ▁country ▁compet itions : ▁she ▁won ▁the ▁silver ▁medal ▁in ▁the ▁junior ▁race ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁European ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships ▁and ▁took ▁the ▁gold ▁the ▁following ▁year . ▁On ▁the ▁world ▁stage , ▁she ▁reached ▁the ▁ 5 0 0 0 ▁metres ▁final ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁World ▁Junior ▁Championships ▁in ▁Athletics ▁and ▁competed ▁in ▁the ▁junior ▁race ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁I A AF ▁World ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships . ▁She ▁improved ▁her ▁position ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁edition ▁in ▁Ireland , ▁finishing ▁in ▁th ir teenth . ▁ ▁Senior ▁compet itions ▁She ▁progress ed ▁to ▁senior ▁races ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁compet ing ▁in ▁the ▁short ▁race ▁at ▁the ▁World ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships ▁and ▁winning ▁the ▁C idade ▁de ▁O var ▁Half ▁Mar athon ▁in ▁ 1 : 1 2 : 2 4 . ▁She ▁finished ▁sevent h ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁European ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships ▁but ▁she ▁won ▁a ▁gold ▁medal ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁best ▁performing ▁team . ▁Track ▁running ▁became ▁her ▁focus ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁but ▁she ▁failed ▁to ▁make ▁the ▁ 3 0 0 0 ▁metres ▁final ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁European ▁Athletics ▁Ind oor ▁Championships ▁and ▁finishing ▁in ▁ 1 2 th ▁in ▁the ▁ 5 0 0 0   m ▁final ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁European ▁Athletics ▁Championships