Lip reader reveals what sprinter really said to opponent before 'attacking' her in head with baton
A lip reader has revealed what baton-wielding Alaila Everett said to Kaelen Tucker during the alleged attack at the VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University earlier this month.
The 4x200m relay event was marred by controversy after Everett appeared to attack Tucker with the baton as her rival tried to move round the outside.
The clip, which went viral on social media, shows Everett pulling her right arm back and smacking the baton she was carrying across her opponent's head in shocking scenes.
Tucker stumbled off the track and fell to the ground clutching her head after being struck by Everett.
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She was treated by doctors for a concussion and potential skull fracture.
A lip reader has since revealed what Everett said to Tucker during the ordeal.
According to expert Nicola Hickling, Everett shouted 'get off' and 'hey oh' as she supposedly hit Tucker with the baton.
Both girls have since shared their take on the unsavoury incident.
Tucker still can't believe she got hit by a baton during the race.
"I still can't believe it. I'm in shock," she told ABC 13 News.
"I'm still trying to take it all in. I can't believe it happened."
Everett, on the other hand, claimed it was an accident.
Speaking to WAVYTV10, she said: "Everybody has feelings, so you're physically hurt, but you are not thinking about my mental, right?
"They are going off of one angle.”
She then explained how she 'would never hit somebody on purpose'.
"After a couple times of hitting her with my baton, I got stuck behind her back like this, and it rolled up her back," she added.
"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."
Everett’s mother, Zeketa Cost, also shared her thoughts on the incident as she jumped to the defence of her daughter.
She explained: "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."
Topics: Athletics
Nasir Jabbar