Bio

Honors

SLIAC Outdoor All-Conference Honors (2023)

SLIAC Spring All-Academic Honors (2023)

SLIAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week (4/4/2023)

SLIAC Winter All-Academic Honors (2022-23)

SLIAC Indoor All-Conference Honors (2022-23)

First Team Cross Country All-SLIAC Honors (2022)

SLIAC Cross Country Newcomer of the Year (2022)

Sophomore (2022-23): In her first cross country season as a Red Devil, she competed in all seven meets and helped the women’s team take runner-up in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship for the first time in program history … She earned First Team All-SLIAC honors with a third-place finish in a personal-best time of 25:08.6 at the SLIAC Championships on Oct. 29 and was selected SLIAC Newcomer of the Year … Set a new PR of 24:47.6 (6:39/M) at the regional meet on Nov. 12 … Recorded a PR of 20:18.13 (6:32/M) … Paced the Red Devils in every race of the season … Received the team’s Women’s MVP Award.

In the winter, she competed in all five meets and helped the Red Devils place fourth overall at the SLIAC Indoor Championship for the first time in program history on Feb. 25 … Became Eureka’s first-ever women’s individual champion with a first-place finish in the mile in 5:33.84, winning by more than eight seconds … Followed it by winning the 3,000 in 11:10.55 by more than three seconds …Earned All-SLIAC honors for the first time in her career … Recorded a PR of 5:28.65 in the mile and a PR of 11:09.85 in the 3,000 at the Titan Open on Feb. 11.

In the spring, she competed in all five meets and helped the Red Devils place fifth overall at the SLIAC Outdoor Championships for the first time in program history … On April 29, she became a three-time conference champion when she took home gold in the 1,500 in 5:07.12, winning by more than seven seconds … Ran the lead leg of the 4x400 team and placed third with a new PR of 4:39.67 … Received SLIAC All-Conference honors in the 1,500 and as a part of the 4x400-meter relay.

Recorded a PR of 800 in 2:34.55 at the Greenville Classic on April 15 … Recorded a PR of 2:30.9 in the EIU Big Blue Invite on March 25 … Received SLIAC Women’s Track and Field Athlete of the Week on April 4 after placing third in the 1,500 in 5:17 and 10th in the 800 in 2:34 at the Millikin Big Blue Invite on April 1.

Freshman (2021-22): Was a member of the cross country team at Lewis University before transferring to Eureka College for the winter and spring distance seasons.

In the winter, she competed in all four indoor meets for the Red Devils, representing the maroon and gold in the 300, 800 and mile … Recorded a PR of 51.59 in the 300 at the Principia Relays … Recorded a PR of 2:41.49 in the 800 at the Titan Open on Feb. 12 … Recorded a PR of 5:48.42 in the mile at the SLIAC Indoor Championships on Feb. 26.

In the spring, she was limited to competing in only one meet due to injury … Recorded a PR of 5:28.53 in the 1,500 at the Greenville Classic on April 15.

Metamora High School: Earned First Team Mid-Illini All-Conference honors in cross country and track and field.

Personal: The daughter of Aaron and Melissa Heffernan, Karissa was born on Dec. 18, 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri … Majoring in business administration.