Track prowess pays off for Bravette duo

Memorable performances by Baldwin’s Pearline Walker and Jasmine Boone in 2009 open the door to full college scholarships

David Brent Martin

Baldwin’s athletic program has yielded many region and state championships over the past 50-plus years, and that trend has continued for the girls track and field team — as the team captured yet another region title in 2009.

Two of the Bravettes most darling success stories from that talented group were on hand Wednesday at Baldwin High’s annual rally at the football stadium.

Pearline Walker left competitors in the dust throughout her lengthy track career and was rewarded with a scholarship to Bevill State in Alabama. Her teammate and best friend Jasmine Boone didn’t begin her track career until this season but notched a full ride to Fort Valley State University off the strength of two stellar showings at regional and state meets.

Walker smiled when discussing her fabulous career as a runner at Baldwin and fondly reflected on some of her best moments.

“We had a good season and won region — and I helped contribute to winning the region a lot. I didn’t do so good in the long jump at state, but I did do good in the 300 meter hurdles.

Walker considers the long jump to be one of her overall strengths and she also likes to do sprints.

“I’m pretty much an all-around athlete — I can do anything,” said Walker. “My passion is track and field.”

The versatile Walker began running track when she was only 8 years old at the Rec. Department and has now been running strong for 10 years.

“I’m excited about getting a scholarship. I’m ready to go — so I can go to the Olympics,” she said with a grin.

Baldwin High girls track and field coach Jenean-Cooper Bolston was also available to discuss her appreciation for her former star pupils.

“Pearline is an outstanding athlete in all sports. Track was her top sport and there wasn’t anything on the track field that she couldn’t do,” said Cooper-Bolston. “She broke a couple of records and also tied a few records here at the high school. She’s just awesome. We hate for her to leave, but we know she’s going to a place where she’ll better her education. And that’s what matters.”

Coach Cooper-Bolston said the 2009 girls track team will need to find replacements, but that there will be plenty of up-and-coming talent that’ll be ready to make their mark once the season starts.

“I expect for us to go back out and win the region again this year. I also expect us to go back to state and come back at a higher level than we did this past year,” she said.

Boone only began her track career this past season after being poked and prodded by friends and coaches to join the team. It was the strength of her performances at the regional and state competitions in 2009 that allowed her to catch the eye of scouts from Fort Valley State University.

Tacey Boone, Jasmine’s adorable mother, was also present to express her love and gratitude for all her daughter has accomplished.

“She won’t be too far away. They only have one track meet in Fort Valley, and we’ll get to see her then. All their track meets are in places like Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama. But we’ll certainly make it to her meet in Fort Valley. We’ll make a day of it,” said Boone.

Mrs. Boone also has deep ties to Baldwin head coach Cooper-Bolston, who played with Boone back during Baldwin’s state championship run in the 1980’s.

“Yeah, me and Coach Cooper-Bolston actually played together and went to college together,” she said.

Jasmine Boone, as stated earlier, hit her collegiate paydirt recently by being offered a full scholarship to Fort Valley State University. The official announcement actually came to her as a shock.

“It was weird because I didn’t even know anybody was looking at me when I was doing the events,” said Boone. “I was doing it to help out the team mostly — for the points and to win the region. I was surprised again after I got the Fort Valley State scholarship — more scholarships came. I also got offered a scholarship for basketball and volleyball.”

Boone was quite open about what she’ll miss most about her days at Baldwin High School.

“I’m going to miss coach Cooper-Bolston the most out of anything — and the sport of volleyball. I’m going to try out for the Fort Valley volleyball team, too,” she said.

“They put their faith in me so I’m going to try to give them 110 percent. But I’m going to miss Baldwin. Being a Bravette has had a big impact on my life. I never thought that I’d get a scholarship in anything, but coach Cooper-Bolston kept pushing me.”

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