Once Seattle Prep opened its doors to females, freshman Isabel Buchanan (’78) took a shot at cross country and began a journey that would leave a lasting impact on both her and women’s sports at Seattle Prep.
The cross-country star didn’t initially plan on trying out that fall, as she was into drawing, sewing, and crafting. Encouraged by her new friend Leslie Deamer (’78), Buchanan decided to give the sport a try. In the fall of 1975, Buchanan started her daily practice sessions along with the previously all-boys team coached by Father Sullivan.
The new team was an adjustment for everyone. It was a small group of girls she ran with her first year, but she explains that she always felt supported and comfortable. Girls’ uniforms hadn’t been acquired yet, so Buchanan and the other female runners used the smallest size of the guys’ sweatshirts. She spent her first month running in flimsy white cotton tennis shoes. However, once Buchanan’s parents bought her a pair of Adidas white cross-country shoes with green stripes on the side, her confidence grew. “Suddenly, I felt I could really be a contender, and with my new shoes and my new confidence, I did even better in the meets,” Buchanan explained.
After Buchanan’s season of consistent effort and success with the varsity group, she was officially recognized. At the end of the season, during the annual cross-country banquet on November 19, 1975, Buchanan became the first woman to receive a varsity letter at the school. “To say the least, I was very honored! I loved being a part of the varsity group of athletes. It was a symbol of acceptance and acknowledgment for the hard work that was involved in achieving the varsity letter,” Buchanan said. “My achievement was one of lettering in varsity for cross country. Being the first girl at Prep to do so was coincidental,” she explained.
Her achievements and experience that season left a meaningful impact on her freshman self: “It was definitely a confidence builder for the somewhat shy 14-year-old that I was when I started Prep, and by the end of the year, I felt that if I put my mind to a specific endeavor, I could achieve results.” Going forward, she used that belief to follow her passions and not fear trying something new. After Prep, she studied textile design and wanted to get into the Rhode Island School of Design. “Not easy everyone said… I did it,” Buchanan proudly shared. Later, she made the big decision to study fashion design in Paris. “Being far from home wasn’t always easy, but I did it,” she admitted. Before long, she was working as a design assistant for one of the top couture designers in Paris. “Yes, maybe my varsity letter helped build the confidence I needed to do this! Probably!” Buchanan exclaimed.
This milestone was big not only for the Prep community as it entered its first year of coeducation, but also for Buchanan as she explored her new passion for competing in cross country. Buchanan’s story offers us a chance to reflect on the meaningful impact this year of change had and how we too can embrace change.
“Really, what I learned was that in life you have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and by so doing you get places,” Buchanan said. “It’s about believing that you can do it.”
