It took 21 years, but the Baldwin High School girls’ track team is region champion again. The Bravettes edged Stockbridge by two points to win the title.

“Most of these girls weren’t even born [in 1987],” said BHS head coach Anderson Bentley, who will retire at the end of this season. “This was a great way to end a regular season career in track and field at Baldwin High School.”

The region championship came down to a dramatic finish, with the Bravette 4x400-meter relay team downing the defending champion Stockbridge team to clinch the title. The two teams were tied 86-86 going into the event.

Baldwin’s time of 3:56.86 set a new school record, as well.

“Pearline Walker was the glue for this to happen,” Bentley said. “She walked down the field and won for the team. No other girls’ team has ever ran that race that fast in the history of the school.”

The state qualifiers for Baldwin include:

- Pearline Walker — Long Jump region champ, 18-feet, 9-inches; 300-meter intermediate hurdles, 45.04 seconds; 4x100-meter relay team, 48.46 second; 4x400-meter relay team, 3:56.86 seconds

- Rakedia Wright — 100-meter low hurdles region runner-up, 14.93 seconds; 4x100-meter relay team; 4x400-meter relay team; high jump region champ, 5-feet, 2-inches

- Ebony Stone — Triple jump region champ, 34.05 feet; 4x100-meter relay team; 4x400-meter relay team

- Haley Marks — 4x400-meter relay team

- Jalissa Dawson — High jump region runner-up, 5-feet

- Alexia Holsey — 4x100-meter relay team alternate; 4x400-meter relay team alternate

- Lakiesha Harris — 4x100-meter relay team

Fiona Curry helped the Bravettes win a region title, finishing third in the discus.

Bentley said the 2008 region title is a far cry from where the team was several years ago.