Burrell's best Olympic finish was fourth place. She also competed twice at the World Championships in Athletics, which included a bronze medal in 2001. Burrell was also a two-time silver medalist at the 1999 Pan American Games. Her personal best for the heptathlon 6472 points and she was American national champion on four occasions.
Burrell completed a major in English and American studies at UCLA and was coached by Bob Kersee while there, and later by Jane Frederick. After her college career, she was coached by Cliff Rovelto. She is not related to namesakes, contemporaries and fellow African-Americans track athletes Leroy Burrell and Dawn Burrell.