Karissa is a 12-time Iowa High School Athletic Association (IAHSAA) all-state athlete in cross country and track. She helped her team to three IAHSAA cross country titles in 2010, 2011 and 2013. She was an IAHSAA cross country championship runner in 2013, placed third in 2012, seventh in 2011, and fifth in 2010. In 2011 she was the IAHSAA champion in the 300.

Karissa turned professional after finishing a highly successful collegiate career at Missouri where she became a six-time NCAA champion. She competed in the USA Track & Field championships in the 5,000 meter run, finishing fourth in 2017, third in 2018, and second in 2019 which qualified her to compete in the IAAF World Athletics Championship in Doha, Qatar in October. She currently runs professionally for Nike with the Bowerman Track Club.

One of her most memorable experiences from her time at Dowling Catholic is when she and her team represented the Maroons at the state cross country meet her senior year. After a disappointing fifth place finish the year prior, the team was extremely motivated and pulled off an upset to earn the state championship title. She will never forget the support they received from the school and their peers.