First earning a place on Canada’s 1981 World Cross Country Championship team, Alison went on to win the silver medal at the 1983 World Cross Country Championships in Gateshead, England, the highest individual finish for a Canadian woman. She was also a member of the Canadian Women’s Cross-Country team that won the bronze medal at Gateshead. Later that year, Alison represented Canada at the first-ever World Athletic Championships in Helsinki, placing top 16 in the 3000m track. She won bronze in the 3000m at the 1989 Jeux de la Francophonie, and was the Canadian champion in the 3000m in 1981 and 1988.

Alison’s illustrious career at Stanford University saw her win gold in the 3000m at the 1982 NCAA Championships, silver in the 5000m at the 1984 NCAA Championships, and seven NCAA All-American honours. She helped to propel her team to three straight second-place finishes at the NCAA Women’s Division 1 Cross Country Championship from 1982-1984. Alison’s outstanding student-athlete achievements earned her a place in the Stanford University Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2006.