Runner who hit rival over head with baton shares new angle of incident as she faces assault charge
The runner who appeared to strike an opponent over the head with a baton is now reportedly facing charges of assault over the shocking incident.
In the American state of Virginia, a VHSL Class 3 State Indoor Championships 4x200-metre relay race went viral after being shrouded in controversy.
Kaelen Tucker, representing Brookville High School, tried to run past Alaila Everett during the second leg when footage showed her being struck with the baton.
She fell off the track holding her head and was unable to finish the race, with Everett's I.C Norcom High School team disqualified for "contact interference".
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Tucker suffered a "slight concussion" and a suspected potential skull fracture from the blow and she and her mother gave a sit-down interview with WSET ABC News where she recalled the incident.
"As we were coming up to the middle of the curve, we were bumping arms a lot," Tucker said.
"So I got more on the outside of the curve to go around her. When I finally pushed through to get in front of her, that's when she hit me in the head with a baton.
"I was so in disbelief. I didn't know what happened - I just got hit in the head and fell off the track.
"No-one [from the opposition], at the time, came up and checked on me or anything."
The VHSL (Virginia High School League) opened an investigation into proceedings, stressing that it is their priority to "provide student-athletes with a safe environment for competition."
In a TV interview, Tucker's mother was asked about the possibility of pressing criminal charges but did not express an interest, saying that Everett "is somebody else's child as well."
Runner facing charges for baton attack
However, according to ABC News, the Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, specifically attorney Bethany Harrison, has confirmed that the 18-year-old is facing assault and battery charges.
That is despite Everett giving her side of the story in interviews with multiple TV stations and stressed that the collision was entirely accidental and claims footage from a different angle proves her innocence.
"Her arm was literally hitting the baton - until she got a little ahead, and my arm got stuck like this," she told Good Morning America while recreating the movements of the incident.
"I would never do that on purpose. That's not in my character."
Everett said similar in a chat with WAVYTV10, as she appeared visibly emotional and revealed she has receive abuse, racist remarks and death threats.
She has claimed she has tried to get in touch with Tucker on social media but discovered she had been blocked.
LADbible Group has contacted the Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for comment.
Topics: Athletics
Josh Lawless