| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
| Olympic Games | ||||
| Qualification | Javelin Throw | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 54.39 |
| World Championships | ||||
| Qualification | Javelin Throw | 2011 | Daegu, KOR | 57.14 |
| Qualification | Javelin Throw | 2009 | Berlin, GER | 52.71 |
| Diamond League | ||||
| 1 | Javelin Throw | 2010 | Eugene, OR, USA | 65.90 |
| 2 | Javelin Throw | 2010 | London, GBR | 63.41 |
| 2 | Javelin Throw | 2010 | Monaco, MON | 64.21 |
| 2 | Javelin Throw | 2010 | Gateshead, GBR | 63.11 |
| 3 | Javelin Throw | 2012 | New York, NY, USA | 60.33 |
| 4 | Javelin Throw | 2011 | Rome, ITA | 62.76 |
| 5 | Javelin Throw | 2011 | London, GBR | 58.25 |
| 6 | Javelin Throw | 2011 | New York, NY, USA | 54.62 |
| 6 | Javelin Throw | 2011 | Eugene, OR, USA | 58.39 |
| 7 | Javelin Throw | 2012 | Rome, ITA | 55.94 |
| 8 | Javelin Throw | 2011 | Monaco, MON | 55.67 |
| 8 | Javelin Throw | 2011 | Paris Saint-Denis, FRA | 58.21 |
| World Challenge | ||||
| 3 | Javelin Throw | 2010 | Berlin, GER | 60.97 |
| 6 | Javelin Throw | 2012 | Ostrava, CZE | 60.00 |
Nickname
KP, Skara. (asicsamerica.com, 20 Sep 2011)
Hobbies
Art, glass blowing, reading, spontaneous travel and movies. (usatf.org, 21 Dec 2011)
Education
Interior Design, Nutrition - Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
Coach
Ty Sevin (usatf.org, 21 Dec 2011)
Debut
2008 for United States, Olympic Games (Beijing) (usatf.org, 21 Dec 2011)
Injuries
A stress fracture in her lower back forced her to miss the 2007 outdoor season. (karapatterson.blogspot.co.uk, 11 May 2012)
Additional information
Start of sporting career
She began throwing in high school. (go.com, 22 Aug 2011)
Reason for taking up this sport
She was on the swim team at high school and the basketball team, but she wanted something to do in the spring so one of her teachers suggested the javelin. She had never heard of it but proved to be a natural. (go.com, 22 Aug 2011)
Ambitions
To win an Olympic medal. (usatf.org, 05 Apr 2012)
Training
She trains twice a day, six days a week. (usatoday.com, 15 Jun 2012)
Superstitions / Rituals
She licks her fingers before throwing to give a better grip. (usatoday.com, 15 Jun 2012)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do." (go.com, 22 Aug 2011)
General
MIND GAMES
She believes a lot of the ups and downs she had in her college career were due to her not being able to focus properly, but she has seen better results after turning to a sports psychologist. "I have a history of not performing well at the big meets that really matter, and I know most of that is from the mental pressure, not the physical preparation. I wanted to fix that. The biggest advice nugget [the psychologist] provided me with is to think about how I'm going to succeed rather than just getting caught up in wanting success and far throws. It's about strategy." (go.com, 22 Aug 2011)
Previous Olympics
Beijing 2008
