Kara Crisifulli lettered four years each in cross- country and track and field at Willamette. She is regarded as the most accomplished female distance runner in Bearcat history. Crisifulli still holds the 5,000 and 4,000-meter cross country school records, and the 1,500, 3,00, 5,000 and 10,000 records on the track. In cross- country, she was a two-time Northwest Conference champion (1984, 1985) and ran four years at nationals, placing fifth as a junior and third as a senior. She was a three-time All-American in the sport. In track and field, Crisifulli was a three-time NCIC champion in the 5,000-meters and in 1986 District II champion in the 5,000. Twice she placed in the national meet in the 5,000, garnering All-American honors by finishing fifth in the 1984 NAIA championships and sixth in the 1985 NCAA Division III meet.