The Virginia high school track runner accused of hitting an opponent in the head with a baton claims it was an accident, adding, “I would never hit someone on purpose.”
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On Tuesday (March 4), a track meet at the VHSL (Virginia High School League) Class 3 State Indoor Championships took a drastic turn. The meet was held on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg. During the 4x200m relay event, Kaelen Tucker was running the second leg of the race for Lynchburg’s Brookville High School.
As she went to make a pass around another runner, she nearly collided with them and was struck in the head with a baton. The other runner was Alaila Everett, a track star and senior at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth. Viral video appears to show Everett winding her arm and smacking the baton across Tucker’s head. However, Everett said that’s not the case at all.
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Before speaking out, the crowd loudly gasped inside the Liberty Indoor Track Complex as Tucker slowed down, stumbled, and fell to the ground. Her mother, Tamarro Tucker, and team trainers immediately rushed to her side to render aid.
Meanwhile, Everett continued to make her way towards the finish line. The judges at the meet saw the apparent attack and disqualified Norcom’s team for “contact interference.” This refers to an athlete who physically interferes with another runner’s actions.
Vincent Pugh, former Citywide Athletic Director at Portsmouth Public Schools, found the move questionable. He said a play-by-play showed that Turner was running closely to Everett. He explained, “If a person comes up on the outside, they got to be a full stride ahead of me before they can cut in front of me.
High School Track Runner Hit In Head With Baton Still Seeking Apology
Tucker told local ABC News affiliate WSET, “I still can’t believe it, I’m in shock. I’m still trying to take it all in, I can’t believe it happened.” According to the news station, Tucker is being treated for a concussion and a possible skull fracture.
Her mother told them that no one from Norcom’s team ever came over to check on her daughter’s condition. She said, “No apologies, no coaches, no athlete, no anything. Even if it was an accident, which I don’t believe it was… nothing.”
The runner also wants to know, “Why did you do it, and why haven’t you apologized?” The Tucker family said they also reached out to both the parent of the runner and the I.C. Norcom athletic director. The two parties both reportedly apologized on the student’s behalf.
VHSL also released a statement to WSET saying they do not comment on individuals or disciplinary actions. However, it stated that “the actions taken by the meet director was appropriate and correct.” VHSL also said they were still reviewing the incident, adding, “[This is] a serious issue, especially when it involves the safety of athletes in competitions.”
High School Track Runner Who Hit Opponent In Head With Baton Gets Emotional And Calls It Accidental
Since the Virginia track meet, Everett, the runner accused of hitting Tucker in the head with a baton claims it was an accident. In an emotional and teary-eyed interview with WAVY, posted on Sunday (March 9), she says, “I would never hit someone on purpose.” Everett told the news station that there is more to the viral clip than meets the eye. She says:
“Everybody has feelings, so you’re physically hurt, but you’re not thinking of my mental. It’s like they are going off of one angle. After a couple times of hitting her, my baton got stuck behind her back like this, and it rolled up her back. I lost my balance when I pumped my arms again. She got hit. I know my intentions and I would never hit someone on purpose.”
Everett’s mother, Zeketa Cost, says, “I didn’t have to see a first video, second video, or tenth video. I know 100 percent that she would never do that to nobody.” The runner also says that despite Tucker’s family claiming they haven’t received an apology, she has tried to get in contact but was blocked on social media.
Additionally, the Everett Family was served with court papers as the Tuckers have sought a protective order. The runner’s father, Genoa Everett, said:
“It doesn’t seem right that this would happen. And now we have to go to a city three hours away [where] everyone hates our guts already. They are assuming my character, calling me ghetto and racial slurs, death threats… all of this off of a nine-second video.”
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