A controversial incident at a high school track meet in Virginia has left one athlete injured and sparked heated debate after a competitor was struck in the head with a baton during a relay race.
The incident occurred during the 4x200m relay final at the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University on March 4. Kaelen Tucker of Brookville High School was competing in the second leg of the race when she was hit on the back of the head with a baton while overtaking another runner.
Alaila Everett from I.C. Norcom High School, who was involved in the incident, maintains it was accidental. “After a couple times of hitting her with my baton, I got stuck behind her back and [the baton] rolled up her back,” Everett explained to WAVYTV10. “I lost my balance, and when I pumped my arms again, she got hit. I know my intentions and I would never hit somebody on purpose.”
Tucker offered a different account of the events. “When you go to the other side of the track, you have to cross into lane one, you have to merge in,” Tucker told WSLS. “As I was coming up on her, she kind of like made me get cut off a little bit, so I backed away. Then, as we got around the curve, she kept bumping me in my arm. Then finally we got off the curve, I like slowly started passing her and that’s when she just hit me with the baton and I fell off the track.”
The incident resulted in Tucker being treated for a concussion and possible skull fracture. Meet officials disqualified Everett for “contact interference.”
Tucker’s mother, Tamarrow, noted that no immediate apology was offered at the time. “No apologies. No coaches. No athlete. No anything. Even if it was an accident, which I don’t believe it was… nothing.”
Everett, who has faced significant backlash since video of the incident went viral, says she wants to apologize but claims Tucker has blocked her on social media. “Everybody has feelings, so you’re physically hurt but you are not thinking about my mental, right? They are going off of one angle,” Everett said tearfully.
The VHSL has confirmed they are investigating the incident, stating it was “a serious issue, especially when it involves the safety of athletes in competitions.”
