On 14 September 2021, at the Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb, Hailu set an Ethiopian record for the 2000 metres with a time of 5m 25.86s, finishing behind only Francine Niyonsaba who set in this race a world record of 5:21.56. Hailu's mark was the third-fastest in history.[1]
In March 2022, Hailu won the silver medal in the 800m at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade with a personal best time of 2:00.54. Ajeé Wilson came first in 1:59.09, and Halimah Nakaayi was third (2:00.66). It was the first global medal at the indoor 800m for the Ethiopian women in history.[2]
In 2023, she ran a number of personal best times. Including 3:55.68 in the 1500m at the Diamond League final in Eugene, 8:26.61 in the 3000 metres in Chorzow, and 14:23.45 in the 5000 metres in Paris.[6] She finished seventh in the 5000m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in 14:58.31.[7]
In January 2024, competing in Ostrava, she won the women’s mile setting a meeting record and a world leading time of 4:17.36. The time placed her sixth in the women’s mile short track all-time rankings.[8] At the 2024 Copernicus Cup in February 2024, she set a new 1500m personal best, running 3:55.28.[9] She won the gold medal in the final of the women's 1500 metres race at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.[10]